Deondre Dunn is a multisport athlete for the Eagles, and as a senior, he is beginning to wrap up his final seasons. He plays football and basketball, and he runs track. Dunn is also in the Heritage Club at Watonga. Deondre is the lead scorer for the Eagles, dropping more than 20 points every game. He also has had a few dunks this season, and he’s ready to finish his senior season out with a bang.
Dunn’s favorite sport has been football. He was introduced to it by his grandpa from a young age. Deondre and his grandpa would often play catch with the football when he was younger. His grandpa is one of his biggest inspirations when it comes to football. Football has shaped Dunn in many ways. “It’s made me a better athlete,” he said. Deondre was crushed after his last game. “I probably cried for two days after we lost,” he said.
Deondre’s grandpa also introduced him to basketball, where he’s now a staple in the team at Watonga. He leads the team in scoring and he has the lowest turnover percentage. He’s very proud of the way he and his teammates have been playing. “Everybody has their own job, and … all of us just click together,” he said. He strives to be a good example for his teammates by showing responsibility. The teamwork aspect is very important to Dunn. He wants to make it to the “Big House,” or the State basketball tournament, with his teammates. He feels like his role on the team is to “get people open when they start guarding me.”
Deondre’s “why” is his great grandma. After the Three Rivers Tournament when they lost to Cashion, she pulled him aside at a family gathering and began to cry in Deondre’s arms. “I knew then … I was not gonna let her down again. That’s my why,” he said.
Deondre is still debating on whether to play football or basketball in college. He’s gotten looks from colleges, but is still keeping options open. For football, he thinks that UCO has a good program for him, but he isn’t settled on that. Eventually, Deondre aspires to make it to the leagues, that is the NFL or the NBA. “I’m trying to make it to the league, but if I don’t, I wanna become a coach for basketball,” he said. His mom is his biggest pusher in his life. “She just pushes me everyday to be who I am.”
He has made huge impacts on the teams he’s played on. “You know Deondre is probably one of the best allaround players I’ve coached,” Coach Brandon Gallagher said. He makes smart decisions for the team and is a team player. “He’s a really polite, nice kid. He’s a really good student,” Gallagher said. “He’s definitely good enough to play at the next level,” he added. He knows the game very well, and he's put in lots of hours for the team. “He’s the first one at practice usually and the last one to leave. … I’m sure he’s put in hours and hours, being able to shoot the ball the way that he does.” Coach Gallagher sees a bright future for Dunn and looks forward to seeing what he can do when playoffs come around.
Deondre Dunn, 17
Grade- Senior
Family- Heather Ross and Chris Ross (parents), Daveon Dunn (sibling)
Activities- Football, Basketball, Track, Heritage Club
Hobbies- Go to the gym, play with his brother, cooking