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Faith Dupree didn’t have to travel far to prepare for her first season at Tennessee. The former Webb School star was the PrepXtra Player of the Year in 2008-09.
Every birthday comes wrapped in a pretty bow for Faith Dupree.
Her mother, Gena, became the ultimate gift-giver when she gave birth to her second daughter almost 19 years ago. At the time, Gena was taking the drug Accutane for acne. Her doctor warned of possible birth defects. Dupree said that her mother was advised to have an abortion.
"She went home to pray about it, to think about it,'' said Dupree, a Tennessee women's basketball freshman. "As soon as she prayed about it, she knew she wasn't going to have an abortion."
Dupree was born with reduced hearing in her right ear. Other than that she was fine.
"Right when (my mom) figured out I was OK, she named me 'Faith','' Dupree said. "She realized that she had faith in God that I'd be all right."
Dupree's all-state basketball career at Webb School went beyond OK. Three summers of volunteer work at Children's Hospital has helped to nurture the uncommon perspective that comes with each day."
"I think about it from time to time, especially like around my birthday.'' Dupree said. "Mom, she's really good about reminding me about how good God is and how He's been to me and to the family."
Q: What's the personality scouting report on you? ... I hear a dry sense of humor.
A: "It depends, I guess, on the person. I have to know how the person is. I have to know how they're going to take a joke I do or something. So at first I'm really quiet."
Q: Going away to school but not going far away, what's that like?
A: "I love it. I go home every weekend, almost. I go to church with my family. If my family needs me or I need my family, we're 10, 15 minutes away. It's not that big of a deal. My mom (two weekends ago), I didn't have time to do laundry, so she came by picked it up and did it for me and then brought it back. It helps with the transition to college."
Q: Do you ever find yourself sneaking home to raid the fridge?
A: "Not yet. Gibbs and the Presidential Cafeteria have done a pretty good job of feeding me."
Q: Did you have the teary farewell with mom in the dorm when you moved in?
A: "Definitely not. I went with my sister when she moved in. She's in Chattanooga and they had the teary farewell. First of all, I'm the second child, so she's gone through it. And then I'm here. I'm only 10 minutes away. She sees me a lot more than she sees Emily so it wasn't that bad."
Q: You're friends with Coach Summitt's son, Tyler, did that ever get awkward during the recruiting process?
A: "I was friends with his girlfriend. That's how we met. From then we became good friends.
"There were some times. Like, he asked me to go to his house. We had an after-prom party there. He had to make sure that it was OK. Pat had to call the NCAA to make sure it was OK. She had to call somebody to make sure it was OK. She's like 'Well, I'm looking at her, but I don't know if she's able to come to my house' So they said as long as you don't talk about basketball or anything, you're good."
Q: Tell me about the timely assist you gave Webb girls' basketball coach Shelley Collier last season?
A: It was before a game and I think we practiced awful that week. She was trying to motivate us, trying to get pumped up and everything and her glasses were crooked on her face. So I stopped her, whatever she was saying, I don't remember what she was saying. I said 'Coach, listen I can't take you seriously until you fix your glasses.' She busted out laughing, which is good because I was either going to have to run or she was going to laugh. I was kind of taking a risk on that one."
Q: Did it totally destroy the mood she was trying to set?
A: "After she fixed it, we got it back."
Q: Could you imagine doing that with Coach Summitt?
A: "No. I would not even try. No, not at all."
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 16
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Nice story. Faith sounds like a good, solid, down-to-earth Tennessee girl. With Cain and Baugh still hobbling, she may get thrown into the fire early.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Can't wait to see Faith play this year. Good luck Lady Vols! Hope you have a good year.
mytrifecta writes:
Wow, excellent story. Faith we will be following your career and wish you the best.
kazoo writes:
I prayed that this wouldn't be another yet another story about the religious beliefs of another sweet freshman--but my prayer was not answered.
YankeeVol writes:
I've been tempted to return to church, but now I see that I only have to read about the religious members of the basketball team on this blog. What a relief - it's much quicker and no one is asking me for money. Thanks GVX!
YankeeVol writes:
With beliefs like that, you'll never play basketball, or any other sport, below the Mason-Dixon line. If you haven't already, C'mon up to the Northeast, where people are more worried about frostbite and snowplowing than the Rapture.
Up here in Boston, religious statements go like this:
"Jesus, it's cold"
"When the hell will it stop snowing?"
And my favorite:
"Christ, that was the sweetest gay wedding I've ever been to...."
oldvolsfan writes:
there are sure some sick people on here
if you dont trust God as your personal Lord adn Savior you will end up in hell for eternity
Agent_Orange writes:
Good girls go to Heaven.
Bad girls go EVERYWHERE!
oldvolsfan writes:
no not for me and when you enter hell you wii remember what i told you
morganelyse writes:
OK Idk why you chose to go off on your beliefs or non-beliefs about God in this comment area....this is about FAITH DUPREE and her beliefs and her life as a Lady Vols basketball player...She was worked harder than anyone I know to get where she is today and honestly it pisses me off that you use this area to gripe about your stupid beliefs that there is not a God. That's very ignorant, and as far as I am concerned, I guess you will find out on your own when you finally kick the bucket. ANYWAY, Faith has been my best friend forever. We grew up together in tiny little Lake City and I just want her to know I am very, very proud of her and I will be at every game to watch her ball it up! I love you Faith!
YankeeVol writes:
The issue really isn't Faith. She clearly is a talented, successful person - and I certainly believe that she is a great friend. If I lived locally, I'd be at every LV game, too - but alas I am at the whim of ESPN. Just bear in mind that the posts here are reacting to a religious theme in the articles, not creating them independently. Ultimately, if you put something highly personalized, like your religious beliefs, into a public forum, like the newspaper or internet blog, people will respond, dissent, discuss, and even poke a little fun at you. It is naive to think that everyone wants to hear about another individual's religious or spiritual affiliations. One person's heartwarming story is intrusive to another - one person's idea that everyone can't wait to hear about their belief in God might be met with scorn by someone else. There are many people, who consider themselves religious, that also believe that it is a matter for their private lives. I would not doubt that Faith is a great person, and a top-notch ball player - at least I hope so, since we need a little help on the court.
98reax writes:
How sad to see gvx has allowed this women's basketball site to be taken over by such querulous blabber. These posters are obviously rejects from the uconn fanbase migrated here to contaminate our forum.
BigRMan writes:
98: Love your use of the word, "blabber". It reminds me of the old Johnny Carson character Aunt Blabby (LOL). Let's not bring UCON rejects into this. The negative posts are from those who just have had negative experiences with organized religion. Whle Faith Dupree may or may not be the key to success for our LV basketball team, Faith in and of itself is a key for eternal salvation. 98 your observations are always welcomed as a reliable barometer of acceptable social climate on this forum. Have a Wonderful Day!- BigRMan
ladivolfan writes:
I find it refreshing and uplifting when articles talk about coach's and player's faith. It is obvious that faith articles create much conviction or else there would be no comments asking for faith not to be a part of what is published.
mississippi writes:
My prayer didn't get answered either. I was praying that YOU might stop whinning about people religious beliefs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xvolx writes:
just watched brittney griner on you tube. uconn, tenn. and everyone else can hang it up this year. She will be unstopable.
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