Fans know LSU senior Ronald Dupree as the high-flying intense basketball player they see on the court of the PMAC, but few know what makes Dupree who he is and what drives him to be successful.
As a freshman he played on a team that attracted large, boisterous crowds, made it to the Sweet 16 and was even predicted by some to make it to the Final Four. The LSU basketball team has not seen days like that since the departure of Stromile Swift, but Dupree has no regrets about his time at LSU.
“We’ve had some up and downs the past couple of years, but for the most part it’s been good,” Dupree said.
The most memorable moment of his career occurred during his first season.
During a game at Arkansas, LSU was in need of a basket. Earlier in the game, Dupree missed an alley-oop pass from Torris Bright so head coach John Brady redrew the play to go to Swift.
However, Dupree convinced Brady in the huddle to have the play go to him one more time.
Bright made the pass and Dupree caught it one with one-hand dunking the ball and getting fouled, making it a three-point play and bringing the entire Arkansas crowd to complete silence.
While Dupree thoroughly enjoyed his basketball experiences, he said that has not be his favorite part of LSU.
“The college experience, Baton Rouge, LSU and networking and meeting different coaches and people from all over has been my favorite thing about being here,” Dupree said.
Many players have talent but never advance further then the local street ball game. Division I college basketball brings along many pressures that some cannot handle.
“It’s one thing to have talent to play the game of basketball, but at this level to deal with the pressure of learning, the media, the fans and especially the coaching staff, it takes a lot of mental strength,” Dupree said.
He credits his relationship with Jesus Christ for giving him the mental strength that has allowed him to accomplish everything he has.
“One thing God has put in my life is peace,” Dupree said. “He’s my guidance; He’s my comfort; He’s my everything.”
He said that his first couple of years he would go out to bars with the team occasionally but no longer sees the attraction to do it. He still likes to have fun but would rather hang out with teammates and friends then go to a bar.
“When you hear about someone getting shot in front of the Varsity, it makes you think twice about going out,” he said.
Many times when people move to college, they grow apart from family. Dupree said he has kept a good relationship with all of his family, especially his mom.
“We talk, basically daily, and she comes down to basically every home game,” Dupree said of his mom. “We have a real close relationship. Our relationship has been changing to a friend/parent relationship and that’s good. Family will always have my back and that’s the bottom line.”
Growing up Dupree dreamed of the day he would play in the NBA. Now his dream is coming close to reality.
“The NBA is right there, it’s so close but I can’t grasp it just yet,” he said.
Dupree spent much of his time last summer working out with NBA players who owned houses or real estate in the Houston area.
“You have a vision, goal and dream, and it gave me a glimpse of that,” Dupree said.
Although NBA scouts were watching his performances all season, he has not been worried about impressing scouts to improve his stock as a possible draft selection.
“I haven’t tried to focus on that at all, I’m team-oriented,” he said. “I believed that if I would play to the best of my ability, all those pro scouts and stock will take care of itself. I believe it has.”
Many players with similar athletic ability and dreams would have left college early before their eligibility is used up. But Dupree came to college and pursued a difficult degree, engineering.
“A lot of people said I couldn’t do it,” he said. “I’m doing it now.”
Engineering is a five- year program and when Dupree leaves LSU at the end of the semester, he will still have 26 hours left to complete his degree program. He plans on returning during his offseasons and receive his degree within two years.
“I just want to finish and graduate and have that on my wall,” he said.
Looking to the future, ten years from now Dupree hopes to have a family of his own, his mother taken care of financially and nearing the end of a successful NBA career. Then moving on to a business career.
“I want to look back and have no regrets hoping that I accomplished all that I wanted to do,” Dupree said.