Drake U'u
{{short description|American-Australian basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Drake U'u
| image =
| caption =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 215
| position =
| league =
| team =
| nationality = American / Australian
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1990|1|18}}
| birth_place = Sacramento, California
| high_school = Rio Americano
(Sacramento, California)
| college =
| draft_year = 2013
| career_start = 2013
| career_end = 2015
| career_position = Shooting guard / point guard
| career_number = 22
| years1 = 2013–2015
| team1 = Perth Wildcats
| highlights =
}}
Drake Ellison U'u (born January 18, 1990) is an American-Australian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Hartford and California Polytechnic State University, before playing two seasons in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) with the Perth Wildcats, where he won a championship in 2014. He was part of the Sacramento Kings organization between 2015 and 2020, including serving as the assistant general manager of the Stockton Kings.
High school career
U'u attended Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California, where he was a three-time first-team All-Capital League honoree. As a senior in 2007–08, he averaged 17.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, as he earned Sacramento Bee third-team All-Metro honors after helping the Raiders finish with a 22–6 record. U'u also earned two letters in swimming, with All-America honors in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.{{cite web | url=http://gopoly.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/bios/u-u_drake_er4i | title=22 - Drake U'u | work=GoPoly.com | access-date=October 27, 2013 | archive-date=December 14, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214112543/http://gopoly.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/bios/u-u_drake_er4i | url-status=dead }}
College career
As a freshman for Hartford in 2008–09, U'u appeared in 18 games with five starting assignments and averaged 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
In 2009, U'u transferred to California Polytechnic State University and subsequently redshirted the 2009–10 season due to NCAA transfer regulations.
As a redshirted sophomore for Cal Poly in 2010–11, U'u appeared in 18 games and averaged 14.0 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 10 points during a 55–48 victory over Loyola Marymount on November 24, 2010. He finished the season averaging 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/drake-uu-1.html | title=Drake U'u Stats | work=Sports-Reference.com | access-date=December 14, 2014}}
As a junior in 2011–12, U'u started during 18 of 26 appearances, averaged 21.2 minutes played and finished sixth among Mustangs with 6.1 points per game; also averaged 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He hit three 3-pointers to finish with a season-high 13 points against Mississippi Valley State on November 26, 2011. He later missed Cal Poly's final seven games of the season after injuring his left hand.
As a senior in 2012–13, U'u averaged 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 32 games (20 starts). He recorded career highs of 14 points and eight assists against Hawaii on January 24, 2013.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/41478/year/2013/drake-uu | title=Drake U'u Game-by-Game Stats – 2012–13 | work=ESPN.com | access-date=December 14, 2014}}
Professional career
In August 2013, U'u arrived in Australia to trial with the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFt_YV9Sqbw&t=22s|title=TEN News Report: Perth Wildcats set sights on Dante Exum.|work=YouTube.com|date=August 22, 2013|access-date=February 9, 2019}} On September 16, he signed with the Wildcats as an injury replacement for Mathiang Muo, who was ruled out of the 2013–14 season with an Achilles injury.{{cite news|url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/1mxyi0533zye41nyuh2ucy7yqx |title=Perth Wildcats sign Drake U'u |work=Wildcats.com.au |date=September 16, 2013 |access-date=October 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029223226/http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/1mxyi0533zye41nyuh2ucy7yqx |archive-date=October 29, 2013}} On January 10, 2014, U'u scored 10 of his season-high 13 points in the second quarter of the Wildcats' 102–87 win over the Townsville Crocodiles. He finished the game 4-of-4 from 3-point range.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/ezrasanqcowi1saaskdyruywu |title=R13 Report: Perimeter blitz puts Perth past Crocs |work=NBL.com.au |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=January 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115023445/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/ezrasanqcowi1saaskdyruywu |archive-date=January 15, 2014}}{{cite web | last=Robinson | first=Chris | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/perth-wildcats-rookie-drake-uu-grabs-his-chance/story-fni2uppb-1226799671036 | title=Perth Wildcats rookie Drake U'u grabs his chance | work=HeraldSun.com | date=January 12, 2014 | access-date=August 17, 2015}} He helped the Wildcats reach the 2014 NBL Grand Final series, where they defeated the Adelaide 36ers 2–1 to win the championship. He came off the bench to score eight points in the deciding game of the grand final series against Adelaide.{{cite news|url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/1la3ujtn3pgmi1huca9mr9qz0v |title=Drake U'u Re-Signs |work=Wildcats.com.au |date=September 17, 2014 |access-date=September 17, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214104954/http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/1la3ujtn3pgmi1huca9mr9qz0v |archive-date=December 14, 2014}}
On September 17, 2014, U'u re-signed with the Wildcats on a three-year deal. On December 14, 2014, he scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, in a 97–76 win over the 36ers.{{cite web | url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/25769942/wildcats-beat-36ers-in-perth/ | title=Wildcats beat 36ers in Perth | work=Yahoo.com | publisher=The West Australian | date=December 14, 2014 | access-date=August 17, 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/NBL/59975/ | title=Wildcats vs 36ers | work=FIBALiveStats.com | date=December 14, 2014 | access-date=December 14, 2014}}
On May 15, 2015, U'u decided not to take the option on his contract which would have allowed him to stay at the Wildcats until 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/1sfafhgl09uc61mucvk86ls0s3 |title=Drake U'u has opted not to sign with the Wildcats for next season. |work=Wildcats.com.au |date=May 15, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518111701/http://www.wildcats.com.au/article/id/1sfafhgl09uc61mucvk86ls0s3 |archive-date=May 18, 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.nbl.com.au/nbl-team-news/uu-ross-to-leave-perth/ | title=U'u, Ross to leave Perth | work=NBL.com.au | date=May 15, 2015 | access-date=May 15, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204171142/http://www.nbl.com.au/nbl-team-news/uu-ross-to-leave-perth/ |archive-date=February 4, 2016}} In 61 games for the Wildcats over two seasons, he averaged 2.8 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.{{cite web | url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=197036560&client=0-189-12314-327335-19755590 | title=Player statistics for Drake U'u | work=FoxSportsPulse.com | access-date=May 15, 2015}}
Front office career
In August 2015, U'u joined the Sacramento Kings' front office as manager of player development.{{cite web | last=Santamaria | first=Liam | url=http://downtownball.net/2015/09/walking-kings/ | title=Walking With Kings | work=DownTownBall.net | date=September 7, 2015 | access-date=November 6, 2015}} In August 2018, he was appointed the assistant general manager of Sacramento's NBA G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.{{cite web | url=https://www.nba.com/kings/kings-announce-basketball-operations-additions-and-promotions | title=Kings Announce Basketball Operations Additions and Promotions | work=NBA.com | date=August 28, 2018 | access-date=February 8, 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://www.recordnet.com/sports/20180829/stockton-kings-add-to-staff | title=Stockton Kings add to staff | work=recordnet.com | date=August 29, 2018 | access-date=February 8, 2019}} In September 2020, he was furloughed by the Kings organization following the delayed start to the 2020–21 NBA G League season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | last=Ham | first=James | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings/sources-kings-furloughs-hit-basketball-operations-g-league-staff | title=Sources: Kings furloughs hit basketball ops, G League staff | work=nbcsports.com | date=September 5, 2020 | access-date=January 13, 2022}} He ultimately did not return to the Kings.{{cite web | url=https://www.prospectiveinsight.com/ourteam/drake-u%27u | title=Drake U'u | work=prospectiveinsight.com | access-date=January 13, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113162730/https://www.prospectiveinsight.com/ourteam/drake-u'u |archive-date=January 13, 2022}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09
| style="text-align:left;"| Hartford
| 18 || 5 || 11.1 || .290 || .140 || .500 || 1.7 || .3 || .4 || .1 || 2.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10
| style="text-align:left;"| Cal Poly
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| Transfer
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
| style="text-align:left;"| Cal Poly
| 18 || 1 || 14.0 || .288 || .133 || .526 || 2.1 || .8 || .4 || .1 || 2.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12
| style="text-align:left;"| Cal Poly
| 26 || 18 || 21.2 || .438 || .292 || .681 || 3.7 || 1.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 6.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13
| style="text-align:left;"| Cal Poly
| 32 || 20 || 21.8 || .347 || .300 || .592 || 3.2 || 2.5 || .6 || – || 5.3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 94 || 44 || 18.1 || .358 || .219 || .602 || 2.9 || 1.4 || .6 || .1 || 4.6
{{S-end}}
Personal life
U'u has a Samoan father, Al, and an Australian mother, Caroline.{{cite web | last=Hope | first=Shayne | url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/25103537/perth-a-divine-play-for-uu/ | title=Perth a divine play for U'u | work=Yahoo.com | publisher=The West Australian | date=September 24, 2014 | access-date=August 17, 2015}} He was born in the United States and has dual American and Australian citizenship.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pXlmB3NnyQ | title=Perth Wildcats - Drake U'u signs with Wildcats - 17 September 2013 | work=YouTube.com | date=September 17, 2013 | access-date=October 27, 2013}} He has two younger siblings, a sister named Greer and a brother named Parker.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://gopoly.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/bios/u-u_drake_er4i Cal Poly bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214112543/http://gopoly.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/bios/u-u_drake_er4i |date=2014-12-14 }}
- {{twitter|drizzy_uu22}}
{{Perth Wildcats 2013–14 NBL champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:U'u, Drake}}
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Australia
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Sacramento, California
Category:Cal Poly Mustangs men's basketball players
Category:Hartford Hawks men's basketball players