Player

Seasons: 2022-23

Number: 2

Position: F

Height: 6' 9“

Weight: 185

Hometown: Wellington NZ

High School: Scots College School, Wellington NZ

Prep School: South Kent School (CT)

Transfer From: none

Birthday: June 19, 2003¹⁾

Committed and signed with UMass on 8/10/2022^2)3)4)5)6)

Roster page at UMassAthletics.com

Tallied 8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists, and 2 steals in the win over Saint Louis (1/4).

Article 1/2/23: ‘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 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 Albany (12/5).

Gained some confidence with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and a steal in 17 minutes of work in the win at Harvard (12/2).

Played one minute in the season opener vs CCSU (11/7), but left with a thumb injury.⁷⁾ Did not play in game #2 vs Towson (11/10). Returned to action versus Colorado (11/17). Scored his first points on a three versus Murray State (11/18).

Also had delays getting his visa.⁸⁾ Arrived on campus in late October, started practicing in early November.⁹⁾

Received clearance from the NCAA in early October.¹⁰⁾ His reclassification up to the entry class of 2022, and being an international student, may have contributed to the delay.

See Sports-Reference or UMass for current numbers

See RealGM for current highs

Four star recruit per 247 Sports¹¹⁾ and Rivals¹²⁾

Verbally committed to George Washington and Coach Jamion Christian in May 2020.¹³⁾ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, never made an official visit to the campus prior to committing. Ended up de-committing in November 2021.¹⁴⁾

Committed to DePaul in June 2022, but decommitted just over a month later.¹⁵⁾¹⁶⁾

Also received offers from Maryland, Illinois, Syracuse, UConn, Virginia Tech, Iona, and others¹⁷⁾¹⁸⁾

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

Twitter: @Tafara_Gapare5

Instagram: @tafara.gapare