Four-star Tafara Gapare reclassifies, commits to UMass

Four-star prospect Tafara Gapare has committed to UMass and will reclassify to 2022, joining the Minutemen this upcoming season, he tells On3.

The 6-foot-10, 185-pound power forward out of the South Kent (Conn.) School is originally from New Zealand. Gapare committed to DePaul in June but de-committed just over a month later. He also received offers from Maryland, Illinois, Virginia Tech, UConn, and several others.

Gapare is the No. 84 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, the average ranking from all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 17 small forward and the No. 3 overall player in the state of Connecticut.

Gapare’s ranking will now be re-evaluated now that he is a part of the 2022 class.

Gapare on his commitment to UMass

“I chose UMass because during the recruitment process, coach Frank Martin built a relationship with me and my family and it felt genuine, real, and not forced,” Gapare said to On3. “What he values as a person and coach matched the same type of energy I’ve been looking for as a person and player. I feel like I’ll be utilized the right way on the court and I’ll grow more off the court.”

In his own words, what type of player is UMass getting in Tafara Gapare?

“UMass will be getting a chess piece a player that you can use in many ways on the court,” Gapare says. “A player who wants to help the players around him shine just as much as I want to. A player with no ego and loves to play selfless basketball. I’m all about team goals over personal goals. I’m someone who puts the team first before myself as a player in-game. I bring a lot of length and versatility to a team. Also, I can start the fast break, space the floor and I love setting up my teammates first. I can play from the post as well and see the floor or score.”

Gapare has a message for UMass fans.

“To the fans of the Minutemen at UMass, the love and support has been great. Let’s tell these people who we are and claim the Atlantic 10!”

Scouting Summary

“Tafara Gapare has a big body and a good frame; long arms, broad shoulders. There are some ball skills in there, he can push the break off the rebound and put it on the floor for one or two dribbles in the half court. At around 6-9, Gapare is a solid passer. When he focuses on playing from the mid range and high post, he can be a mismatch. He will need to tone is body right and stop drifting to the perimeter. There are some valuable tools there and once he learns how to best utilize them, he could outplay his ranking in college.”

On3’s Jamie Shaw, National Recruiting Analyst