From Spokane Driveways to NCAA Tournament Courts
For two decades, Tara and Randy Groves spent countless hours ferrying their sons to basketball games, practices, and tournaments across the Pacific Northwest. The investment has paid off in full: all three of their sons have reached Division I basketball, with the youngest, Dylynn, now joining the University of Idaho roster after graduating from Gonzaga Prep in spring 2026.
“Basketball is the family business,” Randy Groves said, reflecting on the path that began in Spokane living rooms and driveways.
Tara Groves, a former Colville High School standout who holds the Whitworth University all-time scoring record, now teaches physical education and sports medicine at Lewis and Clark High School. Randy Groves played for Shadle Park High School and later attended Community Colleges of Spokane. He serves as dean of students at Spokane Valley High School. Their investment in the sport extends beyond their own playing days and into their sons’ trajectories—each of whom has reached the highest college level of the game.
Tanner and Jacob’s Path to Professional Careers
The two oldest Groves sons, Tanner and Jacob, both starred at Shadle Park High School before committing to Eastern Washington University. In 2021, they helped lead the Eagles to a Big Sky Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in Indianapolis, where Eastern Washington faced Kansas. That milestone came during a period when the program was building momentum under strong coaching and player development.
After Eastern Washington, Tanner transferred to Oklahoma and later pursued a professional basketball career internationally. He has played in Japan, Poland, China, Germany, and Australia. During a 60-game season in Japan, he averaged 18 points and nearly 9 rebounds per game. Now 27, Tanner has built a career as a professional athlete at a level few college players achieve.
Jacob finished his college career at Virginia after transferring from Eastern Washington. He has also played professional basketball, competing in England and Czech Republic before settling into a different career path. Jacob now works as a commercial insurance broker at HUB International, blending his athletic background with business experience.
Dylynn Joins the Vandals
Dylynn, the youngest of the three brothers, has now made his own commitment to Division I basketball. He was dropped off at the University of Idaho in early June 2026 after graduating from Gonzaga Prep. His path to the commitment was not without setbacks: he underwent ACL surgery on his left knee during the 2025-26 season and then re-injured the same leg during Gonzaga Prep’s State 4A championship game.
“I’m super lucky that they were willing to take a chance on me,” Dylynn said, referring to the University of Idaho’s coaching staff.
Idaho head coach Alex Pribble extended that opportunity to Dylynn as the program continues to build on recent success. The Vandals won their first Big Sky Conference championship and made the NCAA Tournament in nearly 40 years, a resurgence that has made the program an increasingly attractive destination for regional recruits.
For the Groves family, Dylynn’s commitment represents the continuation of a multi-generational commitment to basketball excellence. With two brothers who have played professionally and parents who shaped the program from the youth level upward, the youngest Groves enters a storied basketball family tradition—one that has already produced legitimate professional athletes and demonstrated that the pathway from regional high school courts to international competition is entirely achievable.
The University of Idaho’s recent return to the national tournament stage appears to have resonated with the Groves family as well, making Moscow an appealing destination for the latest chapter of their basketball story.
What Comes Next
Dylynn Groves will begin his collegiate career at the University of Idaho under coach Alex Pribble, with the Vandals looking to build on their recent Big Sky Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. His recovery from ACL surgery will be a key factor in his freshman year contribution, though the university’s decision to commit to him despite the injury reflects confidence in his long-term potential.