Clare Tutkowski

@WisconsinLakers AAU #23 | 2029 🏀 5’8 G | Waukesha West High School | 4.14 GPA |Highlights:

[Russ Walbrun @RussWalbrun]

#2029Prospects More MKE. Kids: @GraceKenesie, @SofjaPaLdmric, @aubrey_mLada, @edenraymond2029, @ctutkowski2123, @KyLeighGrass_29, TENLEY NEAL and @peace_petzoLd

[Clare Tutkowski @ctutkowski2123]

Here are a few of my highlights from this AAU season! Love this team

@WisconsinLakers @derekdeprey @JrAllStarWI @BradyJ_Peterson @PGHWisconsin @RussWalbrun

https://t.co/RPbR3QL1in

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

320 Games. About 80 Left. 🖤💛

Just like that, another AAU season is in the books. Last night at our final team pizza party, something hit me.

Many of these girls are now at the point where they’ve each spent about eight years playing AAU basketball. That’s roughly 320 games, countless workouts, tons of road trips, hotel stays, team dinners, pizza parties, and memories that will stay with them forever.

For many, there are only about 80 games left. Some will play every one of them. Some may decide their AAU journey is complete. Some may choose a different path.

That’s youth sports. And it’s a reminder that none of us should take these moments for granted.

If you asked me to sum up this season in one sentence, it’d be this… We all got better. Not just as basketball players, but as teammates, competitors, and young women.

One thing that made this season especially memorable was the competition. I think it was the best schedule we’ve ever had. It felt like every weekend came down to another close game… five-point games, one-possession games, and overtime battles. Those are the moments that test you, reveal you, and ultimately help you grow.

After all my years of coaching, one thing has become crystal clear. I’ve never had a team look exactly the same from one season to the next. Players grow. Families change. Priorities shift. New opportunities arise. That’s exactly why you learn to appreciate the season you’re in.

To every player, thank you for letting me be part of your journey. Watching your confidence grow, your toughness improve, and your willingness to compete for one another was one of the greatest rewards of this season. I couldn’t be more proud of how far you’ve come.

To every family, thank you. Youth sports are at their best when coaches, players, and parents are all pulling in the same direction. I felt that from most of you this season, and I’m grateful for the trust, encouragement, and support most of you gave our team all year long.

And me? If everything goes according to plan, I have just two AAU seasons left before I ride off into the coaching sunset.

That realization has changed how I experience weekends like these. I find myself appreciating the little things more than ever… the conversations before games, the laughter during warm-ups, the long car rides, the team dinners, the pizza parties, the hugs after tough losses, and the smiles after hard-fought wins.

Because someday, the last practice becomes the last practice. The last road trip becomes the last road trip. The last game becomes the last game.

Until then, I’m going to do my best not to rush any of it. I’m going to coach hard, laugh often, stay present, and be grateful for every opportunity I get to spend time with a group of young women chasing something bigger than basketball together.

Thank you, Wisconsin Lakers. You made this season one I’ll never forget.

Here’s to making the most of the next 80 games. 🖤💛

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

Survive and advance!

Our 2029 Wisconsin Lakers pulled out a 45-44 win over Team Wisconsin to punch our ticket to the Elite 8 at the Select 40 Finals.

Who knows… maybe it was our dynamic warm-up before the game. The girls were laughing, smiling, talking, and just having fun together. They were loose. They were connected. 💪🤷‍♂️😆

Then we got punched in the mouth a little in the first half… 🤕

But after halftime, our toughness and rebounding went to a completely different level. Total team effort.

Little things matter. Sometimes it’s a great adjustment. Sometimes it’s an extra rebound. And sometimes… it’s simply a team enjoying being together before the opening tip.

Next up: Michigan Mystics tomorrow at 12:30pm EST with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

One game at a time. 🖤💛⛹️‍♀️

@WisconsinLakers @SelectEventsBB

[Wisconsin Lakers @WisconsinLakers]

Lakers 2029 S40 with two nice wins today to advance to the Elite 8 of S40 finals. Next game tomorrow at 12:30pm for a trip to the final 4 on the line.

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

Our Wisconsin Lakers 2029 S40 team is headed to the Sweet 16 at the Select 40 Finals in Kentucky! Next up: an in-state battle against Team Wisconsin 2029 S40 today at 5:10pm ET with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line. Looking forward to another great challenge. One game at a time. 🏀💪

@WisconsinLakers @SelectEventsBB

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

We lost our final game of the NCAA viewing period by 20. And I had an absolute blast coaching it. 🤷‍♂️

Why? Because 14 hours earlier, we played way *below* our potential in the controllables. Our effort. Our communication. Our focus. Our execution.

Today, we looked like a different team. We competed. We communicated. We trusted each other.

The other team was simply better. It is, what it is.

Maybe it was the conversations. Maybe the light bulb came on. Maybe it was the girls basketball history trivia competition we did with the players, parents, and coaches earlier in the weekend (shoutout to the team moms for taking home the championship 😂).

Whatever it was, they responded!

Sometimes you can do a lot right… and still lose. That’s okay.

As a coach, there’s something rewarding about watching a team become a little closer to who they’re capable of becoming… even when the scoreboard doesn’t go your way.

The scoreboard tells you who won. It doesn’t always tell you who grew.

That’s why you keep coaching.

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

The Wisconsin Lakers 2029 S40 squad closed out last night with a win over an undefeated S40 team.

Before the game, a few players were talking about the other team’s record. (And if I’m being honest… I was too. 😂)

I reminded everyone before tip-off… Every game starts 0-0. If we sprint back, help the helper, box out, move the ball, and confidently take our shots, we’ll give ourselves a chance.

Bottom line. Their record doesn’t play this game.

It was a total team effort. Every single player scored!

The lesson - Your past doesn’t play the next possession. Read that again.

Play the game in front of you!! Don’t let someone’s record intimidate you.

Effort, focus, and execution are always present tense.

Today’s game also starts 0-0. 🏀🤷‍♂️

[Wisconsin Lakers @WisconsinLakers]

Lakers 2034 wins another event. Fun competitive group. Last game with a 33-22 win over Wisconsin Impact. Getting healthy and better every week. 3rd ship this year.

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

Our Wisconsin Lakers 2029 S40 squad went 3-1 at the Lakers Classic this weekend. We got better at some things and found plenty more to work on. My favorite part of the weekend had nothing to do with the scoreboard.

We had two practice players join us for the tournament. They knew before they came that they weren’t going to play.

And they still showed up!!

They cheered for their teammates. Stayed engaged. Brought energy to the bench. Celebrated every good thing that happened for someone else. As a coach, you notice that stuff.

It’s easy to be a great teammate when things are going your way. It’s harder when you know you won’t even get in the game. Those two players reminded me what team-first looks like.

Proud of our entire group this weekend. We won some games, learned a few lessons, and got a little better together.

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

Our Wisconsin Lakers 2029 S40 team had a blast at the Live at the Lakes event in Minnesota. We went 2-2 with a bunch of close games, including a double OT battle… but the highlight of the weekend shockingly wasn’t Mall of America. 😂 It was an offsite pregame shootaround that randomly turned into chaos in the best way possible when one of the girls asked, “Can we play some volleyball?” My answer: “Yep.” What followed was laughing, competing, trash talk, energy, and team bonding in a way basketball alone sometimes can’t create. It reminded me that sometimes coaches need to go rogue from the normal routine. Change the environment. Let kids compete in different ways. Stop over-structuring every second. Some of the best culture-building moments happen when the plan slightly falls apart and the team just gets to be together. Those moments matter. 🏀🏐

[Wisconsin Lakers @WisconsinLakers]

Shoutout to our 2034's who yet again are champs. Short handed but still got it done. Big time talent with this group.

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

8 days. 8 games. 2 tournaments. 2 states.

That’s a lot of basketball, a lot of miles, and a lot of opportunities to grow.

Our 2029 Wisconsin Lakers Select 40 group wrapped up the stretch with a tough win over Legends U and are 4-4 to start the season.

More than anything, I’m grateful for the level of competition. These are the kind of games that test you, expose you, and help you improve.

Best part for me? The birthday shirt from the team: “You don’t scare me. I coach girls basketball.” 😂

A strong week, a lot to build on, and plenty to clean up.

Looking forward to getting back in the gym this week! 🏀🏀🏀

@WisconsinLakers @SelectEventsBB

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

Early season = Learning

New families connecting, players figuring each other out, trying positions they haven’t played before.

2–1 weekend. Won big, lost big, battled for a 4-point win.

Exactly what we need right now. 🏀💪

@WisconsinLakers @SelectEventsBB

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

Great start to the season for our 2029 Wisconsin Lakers Select 40 squad with a 73-40 win! Connected. Unselfish. Just getting started. 🏀💪

@WisconsinLakers @SelectEventsBB

[Select Events Basketball @SelectEventsBB]

Take Notice.

Introducing the 2026 P24 and S40 Family 📈

[Norbert Durst @NorbertDurst]

Headed to OT tied at 62. Ellie Deprey with 4-point play to send the game to OT. #wisgb

[Wisconsin Lakers @WisconsinLakers]

Claire Tutkowski 2029 G scores 9 point and grabs 9 rebounds for Waukesha West in an OT win. A good athlete and a very hard worker on both ends of the floor.

[Russ Walbrun @RussWalbrun]

#2029Prospects 10 MKE area Frosh: @SophiaMiLosh, @PLuemermaria, @_niyastayhoopin, @AmareaDantzLer, @MooreScooby0626, @showtime_jordyn, @ctutkowski2123, @brechtL_k1123, @peace_petzold, @MiaDeprey2029 .

[Derek Deprey @derekdeprey]

8 talented players. 8 college commits. 8 bright futures.

What a special group. Our Select 40 Championship team is fully committed and ready for incredible next chapters:

Maddie Chabot – @WashU_WBB
Ellie Deprey – @PNWWBB
Kate Janssen – @UwrfWbb
Vanessa Johnson – @FSC_WBB
Jenna Kuehn – @UWSPWBB
Alana Mainville – @AUSpartanWBB
Graycin Phillips – @gvsuwbb
Maddie Stocks – @UWECWBB

Here’s to an unforgettable final high school season ❤️🏀