====== Tafara Gapare ======
  * **Player**
  * **Seasons:** [[season_2022-23|2022-23]]
  * **Number:** 2
  * **Position:** F
  * **Height:** 6' 9"
  * **Weight:** 185
  * **Hometown:** [[wp>Wellington|Wellington NZ]]
  * **High School:** [[wp>Scots College, Wellington|Scots College School, Wellington NZ]]
  * **Prep School:** [[wp>South Kent School|South Kent School (CT)]]
  * **Transfer From:** none
  * **Transfer To:** [[opponent_georgia_tech|Georgia Tech]]
  * **Birthday:** June 19, 2003((https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Tafara-Gapare/Summary/150529))

{{ ::gapare_tafara_roster_photo_2022-23.jpg?nolink|Tafara Gapare roster photo 2022-23}}
===== At UMass =====
  * A member of [[frank_martin|Frank Martin's]] first recruiting class at UMass.
  * Committed and signed with UMass on 8/10/2022((https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Basketball-recruiting-Tafara-Gapare-UMass-Depaul-commit-191225637/))((https://twitter.com/UMassMBB/status/1557375450963251200))((https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-basketball-flips-four-star-commit-Tafara-Gapare-from-DePaul-Frank-Martin-47552540))((https://dailycollegian.com/2022/08/tafara-gapare-reclassifies-commits-to-umass-mens-basketball/))((https://www.masslive.com/umassbasketball/2022/08/umass-signs-tafara-gapare-4-star-ex-depaul-commit-from-new-zealand-the-players-we-have-and-adding-me-you-can-crown-us-a10-champs-now.html))
  * Played in 30 of UM's 31 games in the [[season_2022-23|2022-23 season]], injury being the one exception.
  * A little raw on the skillset, but showed some flashes of potential, with three games in double-figure scoring.
  * Only got 12.4 minutes per game.  For a 4-star recruit, that was a regular topic of debate among the fanbase.
  * Chose to transfer out at the conclusion of the season.((https://twitter.com/Tafara_Gapare5/status/1640792140312727554))((https://twitter.com/nelsongapare/status/1640802122798190605))((https://twitter.com/MLBergman_/status/1640772035893772288))((https://twitter.com/VerbalCommits/status/1640771396417511424))
  * [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tafara-gapare/14017|Roster page at UMassAthletics.com]]
  * [[https://www.umasshoops.com/newboard/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16814|Message board thread]]

==== 2022-23 Freshman year ====
  * Snared 6 boards in the games against [[game20230222_dayton|Dayton (2/22)]] and [[game20230307_richmond|vs Richmond (3/7)]].
  * Matched his season high with 24 minutes [[game20230218_rhode_island|at Rhode Island (2/18)]], putting up 11 & 7.
  * Averaged 12 minutes over a 6 game span ([[game20230128_duquesne|Duquesne 1/28]] thru [[game20230214_loyola_chicago|Loyola 2/14]]), with 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds.
  * Mini-slump in late January, registering no points or boards over three games ([[game20230117_vcu|at VCU 1/17]] thru [[game20230125_richmond|Richmond 1/25]]).  Averaged 9.3 minutes across those games.
  * Tallied 6 & 4 in the win over [[game20230114_rhode_island|Rhode Island (1/14)]].
  * Logged a season high 24 minutes, tallying 8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists, and 2 steals in the win over [[game20230104_st_louis|Saint Louis (1/4)]].
  * Article 1/2/23: [[https://www.gazettenet.com/Tafara-Gapare-UMass-basketball-mystery-man-New-Zealand-49396848|‘He’s not trying to get attention’: UMass basketball freshman Tafara Gapare focused on team success]] (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
  * Led the team with 13 points in the win [[game20221211_hofstra|versus Hofstra (12/11)]].
  * Tallied his first double-figure game with 15 points (led the team), plus 5 steals and 2 blocks in the win over [[game20221205_albany|Albany (12/5)]].
  * Gained some confidence with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and a steal in 17 minutes of work in the win [[game20221202_harvard|at Harvard (12/2)]].
  * Played one minute in the season opener vs [[game20221107_central_connecticut|CCSU (11/7)]], but left with a thumb injury.((https://twitter.com/kylegrbwsk/status/1590399747676065793))  Did not play in game #2 vs [[game20221110_towson|Towson (11/10)]].  Returned to action [[game20221117_colorado|versus Colorado (11/17)]].  Scored his first points on a three [[game20221118_murray_state|versus Murray State (11/18)]].
  * Also had delays getting his visa.((https://twitter.com/MLBergman_/status/1585679501308067840))  Arrived on campus in late October, started practicing in early November.((https://twitter.com/UMassMBB/status/1589033407732142081))
  * Received clearance from the NCAA in early October.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1578737648469872640))  His reclassification up to the entry class of 2022, and being an international student, may have contributed to the delay.

===== Statistics =====
^Season^School^Conf^G^GS^MP^MPG^FG^FGA^FG%^2P^2PA^2P%^3P^3PA^3P%^FT^FTA^FT%^PTS^PPG^ORB^DRB^TRB^RPG^AST^STL^BLK^TOV^PF^FO^
|2022-23|UMass|A-10|30|0|372|12.4|34|109|.312|22|64|.344|12|45|.267|23|40|.575|103|3.4|15|48|63|2.1|8|14|20|33|39|0|

[[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/tafara-gapare-1.html|Career stats from Sports Reference]]

==== UMass highs ====
|Points|15 - [[game20221205_albany|Albany (12/5/22)]]|
|Field Goals|6 - [[game20221205_albany|Albany (12/5/22)]]|
|Field Goals Att.|10 - [[game20221205_albany|Albany (12/5/22)]]|
|:::|10 - [[game20221211_hofstra|vs Hofstra (12/11/22)]]|
|3-Point FG|2 - three times, last [[game20230218_rhode_island|at Rhode Island (2/18/23)]]|
|3-Point FG Att.|4 - at George Mason (2/1/23)|
|:::|4 - [[game20230218_rhode_island|at Rhode Island (2/18/23)]]|
|Free Throws|5 - [[game20230104_st_louis|Saint Louis (1/4/23)]]|
|Free Throw Att.|8 - [[game20230104_st_louis|Saint Louis (1/4/23)]]|
|Rebounds|7 - [[game20221220_dartmouth|Dartmouth (12/20/22)]]|
|:::|7 - [[game20230218_rhode_island|at Rhode Island (2/18/23)]]|
|Assists|2 - [[game20221220_dartmouth|Dartmouth (12/20/22)]]|
|:::|2 - [[game20230104_st_louis|Saint Louis (1/4/23)]]|
|Blocks|5 - [[game20230104_st_louis|Saint Louis (1/4/23)]]|
|Steals|5 - [[game20221205_albany|Albany (12/5/22)]]|
|Minutes|24 - [[game20230104_st_louis|Saint Louis (1/4/23)]]|
|:::|24 - [[game20230218_rhode_island|at Rhode Island (2/18/23)]]|

[[https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Tafara-Gapare/Bests/150529|Career highs from RealGM.com]]

===== Pre-UMass ====
  * Four star recruit per 247 Sports((https://247sports.com/Player/Tafara-Gapare-46102075/)) and Rivals((https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2022/tafara-gapare-289269))
  * Verbally committed to [[opponent_george_washington|George Washington]] and Coach [[wp>Jamion Christian]] in May 2020.((https://247sports.com/Article/Tafara-Gapare-George-Washington-Basketball-Commit-147432374/#:~:text=International%20prospect%20Tafara%20Gapare%20verbally,official%20pledge%20late%20Friday%20afternoon.))  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, never made an official visit to the campus prior to committing.  Ended up de-committing in November 2021.((https://247sports.com/Player/Tafara-Gapare-46102075/))
  * Committed to [[opponent_depaul|DePaul]] in June 2022, but decommitted just over a month later.((https://247sports.com/Player/Tafara-Gapare-46102075/))((https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/depaul-basketball-recruiting-four-star-pf-tafara-gapare-commits-to-blue-demons-on-cbs-sports-hq/))
  * Also received offers from [[opponent_maryland|Maryland]], [[wp>Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|Illinois]], [[opponent_syracuse|Syracuse]], [[opponent_connecticut|UConn]], [[opponent_virginia_tech|Virginia Tech]], [[opponent_iona|Iona]], and others((https://247sports.com/Player/Tafara-Gapare-46102075/))((https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2022/tafara-gapare-289269))
  * Was expected to be in the recruiting class of 2023, but reclassified up to 2022
  * Ranked as the No. 1 player in Connecticut and No. 10 power forward by 247Sports for the Class of 2023
  * Top-50 recruit nationally by 247Sports
  * Tabbed 81st-nationally and as the No. 18-ranked power forward by Rivals

===== Post-UMass =====
  * Played with [[opponent_villanova|Villanova]] for the 2025-26 season.  Followed coach [[wp>Kevin Willard]] as he went from Maryland to Villanova in the 2025 off-season.
  * Played the 2024-25 season at [[opponent_maryland|Maryland]].
  * Played the 2023-24 season at [[opponent_georgia_tech|Georgia Tech]].

===== External links =====
  * Twitter: [[https://twitter.com/Tafara_Gapare5|@Tafara_Gapare5]]
  * Instagram: [[https://www.instagram.com/tafara.gapare/|@tafara.gapare]]

{{tag>"Players" "Jersey # 2" "Forwards" "Players from New Zealand" "International players" "Prep School South Kent CT" "Played for Frank Martin" "Born in 2003" "Transfers outgoing" "Georgia Tech"}}