Larry Drew II

{{Short description|American basketball player}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Larry Drew II

| image = Larry Drew II cropped.jpg

| caption = Drew (right) defending in 2009

| position = Point guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 180

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|3|5}}

| birth_place = Encino, California, U.S.

| high_school = Taft (Woodland Hills, California)

| college =

| draft_year = 2013

| career_start = 2013

| career_end = 2018

| years1 = 2013–2015

| team1 = Sioux Falls Skyforce

| years2 = {{nbay|2014|end}}

| team2 = Philadelphia 76ers

| years3 = 2015

| team3 = Sioux Falls Skyforce

| years4 = 2015–2016

| team4 = AS Monaco

| years5 = 2016

| team5 = Sioux Falls Skyforce

| years6 = 2016–2017

| team6 = Neptūnas Klaipėda

| years7 = 2017–2018

| team7 = Sioux Falls Skyforce

| years8 = {{nbay|2017|end}}

| team8 = Philadelphia 76ers

| years9 = 2018

| team9 = Sioux Falls Skyforce

| years10 = {{nbay|2017|end}}

| team10 = New Orleans Pelicans

| highlights =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}

{{MedalCountry|{{bk|USA}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIBA AmeriCup}}

{{MedalGold|2017 Argentina|}}

}}

Larry Donelle Drew II (born March 5, 1990) is an American former professional basketball player. He won the John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year Award in 2008 before starting his college basketball career with the North Carolina Tar Heels. He went on to win a national championship in 2009 with the Tar Heels before deciding to leave the program midseason in 2011. He transferred to the UCLA Bruins' program, where he played one season and broke the single-season school record for assists. Drew was named to the All-Pac-12 first team. He won a gold medal with the United States national team at the FIBA AmeriCup in 2017.

Early life

Drew is the son of Larry Drew,{{cite web|first=Steve |last=Hummer |title=Larry Drew's path to coach of Hawks |url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/larry-drews-path-to-547783.html |access-date=June 12, 2010 |work=AJC.com |date=June 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424095135/http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/larry-drews-path-to-547783.html |archive-date=April 24, 2012 }} who was a first-round draft pick in the 1980 NBA draft before becoming a head coach in the league. At William Howard Taft High School, Drew won the John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year Award as the 2008 Los Angeles City Section Player of the year{{cite web|title=John R. Wooden Award Committee Names 2008 Wooden High School Players Of The Year |date=April 16, 2008 |work=WoodenAward.com |url=http://www.woodenaward.com/?p=254 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525160059/http://www.woodenaward.com/?p=254 |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }} and was also a third-team Parade All-American that year.{{cite news|title=High School Boys Basketball Team |date=April 6, 2008 |magazine=Parade |url=http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_04-06-2008/4All_America_Boys_Basketball |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210130610/http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_04-06-2008/4All_America_Boys_Basketball |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |url-status=dead }} He participated in the 2008 McDonald's All-American Game, where he won the 3-point shooting contest.{{cite news|last=Jordan |first=Jason |title=UNC Point Guard Larry Drew II Is Ready To Show What He Can Do |date=November 6, 2009 |magazine=Dime Magazine |url=http://dimemag.com/2009/11/unc-point-guard-larry-drew-ii-is-ready-to-show-what-he-can-do/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724074144/http://dimemag.com/2009/11/unc-point-guard-larry-drew-ii-is-ready-to-show-what-he-can-do/ |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

College career

=North Carolina=

Drew started his collegiate career at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In his freshman year, he averaged 1.4 points, 1.9 assists, 1.2 turnovers, and 1.1 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game as the Tar Heels won the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I championship. He became the starting point guard as a sophomore, replacing Ty Lawson who departed for the NBA. Drew had an up and down season as the Tar Heels struggled to a 20–17 overall record and failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament. However, they did advance to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship game.{{cite web|url=http://carolinaupdate.com/north-carolina-basketball/stats/2009-2010 |title=Tar Heels struggle in 2009–2010 season |work=CarolinaUpdate.com |access-date=January 6, 2011 }}{{cite news|last=Yoon |first=Peter |title=Larry Drew II enrolls at UCLA |date=March 28, 2011 |work=ESPNLosAngeles.com |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/ncb/news/story?id=6268079 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401145440/http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncb/news/story?id=6268079 |archive-date=April 1, 2011 |url-status=live }} For the season, Drew averaged 8.5 points per game on 40.2% shooting from the field, with six assists and 2.1 turnovers per game.{{cite web|url=http://carolinaupdate.com/north-carolina-basketball/roster_player/larry-drew-ii |title=Larry Drew II Career Stats |work= CarolinaUpdate.com |access-date=January 6, 2011}}

On February 3, 2011, Drew left the University of North Carolina's basketball program in the middle of the season. In his last game with the Tar Heels, he had nine assists in 19 minutes in a 106–74 victory over Boston College. He did not cite any reasons, but his playing time, scoring, and assist numbers were all down from the prior season, and freshman Kendall Marshall had supplanted him as starting point guard in mid-January.{{cite news|last=Forde |first=Pat |author-link=Pat Forde |title=Larry Drew II leaves Tar Heels |date=February 4, 2011 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=6089805 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207201949/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6089805 |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |url-status=live }} However, in a freestyle rap in March on his 21st birthday, Drew rapped, "The past three years I can't undo, so now I'm making all the moves that I want to ... They tried to tell me just to play my role, but who's really trying to stick to a script that's full of typos?"{{cite news|last=Bolch |first=Ben |title=UCLA basketball: Former North Carolina guard Larry Drew II joins Bruins |date=March 28, 2011 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/03/ucla-basketball-former-north-carolina-guard-larry-drew-ii-joins-bruins.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402073711/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/03/ucla-basketball-former-north-carolina-guard-larry-drew-ii-joins-bruins.html |archive-date=April 2, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

=UCLA=

Drew started attending classes at UCLA on March 28, and had to sit out the 2011–12 season before using his final season of eligibility. Drew joined former Tar Heel twins, David and Travis Wear, who also transferred to UCLA.

Drew began the 2012–13 season as the Bruins lone senior player. He was also their only true point guard, a position he shared with freshman Kyle Anderson.{{cite news|last=Hamilton |first=Brian |title=UNC transfer Larry Drew II looking for redemption as senior at UCLA |date=November 2, 2012 |work=SI.com |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/brian_hamilton/11/01/UCLA-Larry-Drew-II/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120052148/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/brian_hamilton/11/01/UCLA-Larry-Drew-II/index.html |archive-date=November 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|last=Strong |first=Sam |title=Howland turns to Larry Drew II at point guard |date=November 13, 2012 |newspaper=Post-Telegram |location=Long Beach |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/ci_21992366/ucla-basketball-notebook-howland-turns-larry-drew-ii |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910212810/http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/ci_21992366/ucla-basketball-notebook-howland-turns-larry-drew-ii |archive-date=September 10, 2016 |url-status=live }} In the final game of the regular season, Drew broke Pooh Richardson's school record for most assists in a season.{{cite news|last=Loumena|first=Dan|title=UCLA clinches Pac-12 Conference regular-season title|date=March 9, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-ucla-washington-recap-20130309,0,4683106.story|access-date=March 10, 2013}}{{efn|Drew's record was broken by Lonzo Ball in 2016–17.}} Drew was named to the All-Pac-12 first team.{{cite news|last=Yoon |first=Peter |title=Shabazz Muhammad, Larry Drew II named All-Pac-12 |date=March 11, 2013 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/ucla/post/_/id/13549/shabazz-muhammad-larry-drew-ii-named-all-pac-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314032008/http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/ucla/post/_/id/13549/shabazz-muhammad-larry-drew-ii-named-all-pac-12 |archive-date=March 14, 2013 |url-status=live }}

Professional career

=2013–14 season=

After going undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft, Drew joined the Miami Heat for the 2013 NBA Summer League. On September 23, 2013, he signed with the Heat.{{cite web|title=Miami Heat sign guard Larry Drew II|url=http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=14306|access-date=September 23, 2013|work=InsideHoops.com|date=September 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020200421/http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=14306|archive-date=October 20, 2014|url-status=dead}} However, he was later waived by the Heat on October 21.{{cite web|title=HEAT Waive Varnado, Drew and Westbrook|date=October 21, 2013|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|url=http://www.nba.com/heat/heat-waive-varnado-drew-and-westbrook|access-date=October 21, 2013}} On October 31, he was acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce.{{cite web|title=Skyforce Announces Initial 2013–14 Training Camp Invitees |url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/siouxfalls/1314_training_camp_invitees_131031.html |access-date=October 31, 2013 |work=NBA.com |date=October 31, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107095620/http://www.nba.com/dleague/siouxfalls/1314_training_camp_invitees_131031.html |archive-date=November 7, 2015 }} On November 23, he made his professional debut in a 103–73 win over the Reno Bighorns, recording nine points, three rebounds and six assists in 32 minutes.{{cite web|title=Reno 73, Sioux Falls 103|url=http://basketball.realgm.com/dleague/boxscore/2013-11-23/Reno-at-Sioux-Falls/143060|access-date=March 28, 2016|work=RealGM.com|date=November 23, 2013}}

=2014–15 season=

In July 2014, Drew re-joined the Heat for the 2014 NBA Summer League. On October 20, he re-signed with the Heat,{{cite web|title=HEAT Signs Larry Drew II|url=http://www.nba.com/heat/heat-signs-larry-drew-ii|access-date=October 20, 2014|work=NBA.com|date=October 20, 2014}} however they waived him on October 25,{{cite web|title=HEAT Waive Birch, Drew, Johnson and Jones|url=http://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-waive-birch-drew-johnson-and-jones|access-date=October 25, 2014|work=NBA.com|date=October 25, 2014}} when he accepted their assignment back to Sioux Falls.{{cite news|last=Winderman |first=Ira |title=Heat release Tyler Johnson, Shawn Jones, Larry Drew |date=October 23, 2014 |newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-tyler-johnson-s102314-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025171331/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-tyler-johnson-s102314-story.html |archive-date=October 25, 2014 |url-status=live }} He was officially reacquired by the Skyforce on November 3.{{cite web|title=Skyforce Announces Full Training Camp Roster|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/skyforce-announces-full-training-camp-roster/n-4890576|access-date=November 3, 2014|work=OurSportsCentral.com|date=November 3, 2014}} He went on to deliver a D-League record 23 assists on December 25 in the 135–129 win over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.{{cite web|title=Record Breaking Night from Drew II Leads Sioux Falls over Rio Grande Valley|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/record-breaking-night-from-drew-ii-leads-sioux-falls-over-rio-grande-valley/n-4908343|access-date=December 26, 2014|work=OurSportsCentral.com|date=December 26, 2014}}

On January 16, 2015, Drew signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.{{cite press release|url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/150116-larry-drew-ii-signed|title=Sixers Sign Larry Drew II To 10-day Contract|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=January 16, 2015|access-date=January 16, 2015}} On January 26, he signed a second 10-day contract with the 76ers.{{cite press release|url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/150126-drew-signed|title=Sixers Sign Larry Drew II To Second 10-day Contract|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=January 26, 2015|access-date=January 26, 2015}} Hours later, he made his first NBA start against the New Orleans Pelicans; Philadelphia was without starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who was out sick, and backup Tony Wroten had been sidelined with a knee injury.{{cite news|last=Pompey |first=Keith |title=Davis and Pelicans run over Sixers |date=January 28, 2015 |newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://articles.philly.com/2015-01-28/sports/58513114_1_brett-brown-nerlens-noel-pelicans |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920210503/http://articles.philly.com/2015-01-28/sports/58513114_1_brett-brown-nerlens-noel-pelicans |archive-date=September 20, 2015 |url-status=dead }} League rules limited teams to signing a single player to a maximum of two 10-day deals. Needing to sign Drew to a fully guaranteed contract if they wished to retain him, the team instead signed Tim Frazier to a 10-day contract on February 5, citing the desire for roster "flexibility."{{cite web|last=Rappaport|first=Max|url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/1502050-frazier-signed|title=Frazier Joins Sixers After Call-up From Red Claws|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=February 5, 2015|access-date=February 5, 2015}} On February 6, he returned to the Skyforce.{{cite web|url=http://siouxfalls.dleague.nba.com/news/drew-ii-returns/|title=Larry Drew II Returns to Skyforce|work=NBA.com|date=February 6, 2015|access-date=February 6, 2015}}

=2015–16 season=

During the offseason, Drew played for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he was named to the All-NBA Summer League Second Team.{{cite news|title=Spurs forward Kyle Anderson named Summer League MVP |date=July 19, 2015 |work=SI.com |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/19/nba-summer-league-mvp-kyle-anderson-spurs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905222159/http://www.si.com/nba/2015/07/19/nba-summer-league-mvp-kyle-anderson-spurs |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |url-status=live }} Following the conclusion of the Summer League, he signed with AS Monaco Basket of the LNB Pro A in France for 2015–16.{{cite web|title=LA ROCA TEAM VERSION PRO A 2015–2016 |work=asmonacobasket.com |url=http://www.asmonacobasket.com/?p=8891 |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175343/http://www.asmonacobasket.com/?p=8891 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=live }} On March 15, 2016, he parted ways with Monaco after averaging 4.1 points per contest in 18 games.{{cite news|title=Larry Drew II, AS Monaco part ways|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/194186/larry-drew-ii-as-monaco-part-ways.html|access-date=March 16, 2016|work=Sportando.com|date=March 15, 2016}}

On March 28, 2016, Drew was reacquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce.{{cite news|title=Skyforce Acquire Larry Drew II|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/skyforce-acquire-larry-drew-ii/n-5116039|access-date=March 28, 2016|work=OurSportsCentral.com|date=March 28, 2016}} The next day, he made his season debut in a 125–107 win over the Iowa Energy, recording three points, one rebound and two assists in nine minutes off the bench.{{cite news|title=Skyforce Rout Energy, Set Single-Season Wins Mark|url=http://dleague.nba.com/games/20160329/IWASXF/|access-date=March 29, 2016|work=NBA.com|date=March 29, 2016}} He helped the Skyforce win the league championship with a 2–1 Finals series win over the Los Angeles D-Fenders.{{cite web|url=http://dleague.nba.com/games/20160427/LADSXF/|title=Sioux Falls Skyforce Cap Historic Season with First NBA D-League|work=NBA.com|date=April 27, 2016|access-date=April 28, 2016}}

=2016–17 season=

On August 2, 2016, Drew signed a one-year contract with BC Neptūnas in Lithuania.{{cite web|title="Neptūno" gretose – NBA duonos ragavęs žaidėjas (2 video)|url=http://www.bcneptunas.lt/lt/titulinis/item/1230-nept%C5%ABno-gretose-nba-duonos-ragav%C4%99s-%C5%BEaid%C4%97jas-2-video|website=KK Neptūnas|access-date=August 5, 2016|language=lt-LT|date=August 2, 2016}} On February 10, 2017, he parted ways with Neptūnas due to disciplinary issues.{{cite news|title=DĖL VIDAUS TAISYKLIŲ PAŽEIDIMŲ "NEPTŪNĄ" PALIEKA DU LEGIONIERIAI|url=http://www.bcneptunas.lt/lt/titulinis/item/1381-dėl-vidaus-taisyklių-pažeidimų-"neptūną"-palieka-du-legionieriai|access-date=February 10, 2017|work=bcneptunas.lt|date=February 10, 2017|language=lt}}{{cite web|last1=Miknevičiūtė|first1=Gabrielė|title=Iš "Neptūno" išmestas O.Kurauskas nesigaili priimtų sprendimų ir atskleidė D.Ewingo sugrįžimo istoriją {{!}} Krepsinis.net|url=http://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/is-neptuno-ismestas-o-kurauskas-nesigaili-priimtu-sprendimu-ir-atskleide-d-ewingo-sugrizimo-istorija/273227|website=Krepsinis.net|access-date=25 April 2017|language=lt}} On March 2, 2017, Drew was acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce.{{cite web|url=http://siouxfalls.dleague.nba.com/news/skyforce-acquire-larry-drew-ii/|title=SKYFORCE ACQUIRE LARRY DREW II|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=March 2, 2017|access-date=March 3, 2017}}

=2017—18 season=

Drew Joined the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2017 NBA Summer League in Orlando. He later signed with Miami for his third training camp with the Heat.{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Jeff|title=AmeriCup Experience Prepares Larry Drew For Camp|date=September 15, 2017|website=gleague.nba.com|url=http://gleague.nba.com/news/americup-experience-prepares-larry-drew-camp/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916040224/http://gleague.nba.com/news/americup-experience-prepares-larry-drew-camp/|archive-date=September 16, 2017|url-status=live}} On October 12, he was waived by the Heat.{{cite web|title=HEAT Signs Tony Mitchell|url=http://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-signs-tony-mitchell|website=NBA.com|date=October 12, 2017|access-date=October 12, 2017}}

On January 23, 2018, Drew signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/drew-ii-signed-10-day-contract|title=Drew II Signed to 10-Day Contract|work=NBA.com|date=January 23, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2018}} In March, he signed two 10-day contracts with the New Orleans Pelicans, but was not re-signed after the team signed former Pelicans guard Jordan Crawford.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/pelicans/pelicans-sign-larry-drew-ii-10-day-contract|title=Pelicans sign Larry Drew II to 10-Day Contract|work=NBA.com|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Peter|first=Dan|title=SKYFORCE'S DREW II CAPS SEASON TO REMEMBER AND PLAYED WITH TWO NBA CONTENDERS|date=April 10, 2018|work=ESPN991.com|url=http://espn991.com/skyforces-drew-ii-caps-season-to-remember-and-played-with-two-nba-contenders/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412171512/http://espn991.com/skyforces-drew-ii-caps-season-to-remember-and-played-with-two-nba-contenders/|archive-date=April 12, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Pelicans sign Jordan Crawford|date=April 6, 2018|website=WWL.com|url=http://www.wwl.com/blogs/pelicans-sign-jordan-crawford|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406134522/http://www.wwl.com/blogs/pelicans-sign-jordan-crawford|archive-date=April 6, 2018|url-status=live}}

National team career

Drew played for the United States national team at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup, where he won a gold medal. He averaged 4.6 points, 5.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game in the tournament.

Career statistics

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

=NBA statistics=

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2014}}

| align="left" | Philadelphia

| 12 || 1 || 18.3 || .345 || .154 || .667 || 1.3 || 3.8 || .5 || .0 || 3.8

|-

| align="left" rowspan=2| {{Nbay|2017}}

| align="left" | Philadelphia

| 3 || 0 || 5.0 || .143 || .000 || – || .3 || .7 || .0 || .0 || .7

|-

| align="left" | New Orleans

| 7 || 0 || 7.9 || .353 || .500 || – || .3 || 1.1 || .0 || .0 || 2.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| align="center" colspan="2"| Career

| 22 || 1 || 13.1 || .329 || .200 || .667 || .8 || 2.5 || .3 || .0 || 2.9

{{S-end}}

=College statistics=

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09

| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina

| 38 || 0 || 9.6 || .351 || .231 || .412 || 1.1 || 1.9 || .4 || .0 || 1.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10

| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina

| 37 || 36 || 28.8 || .405 || .352 || .606 || 2.7 || 5.9 || .8 || .0 || 8.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11

| style="text-align:left;"| North Carolina

| 21 || 17 || 22.8 || .384 || .207 || .677 || 2.3 || 3.9 || 1.1 || .0 || 4.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13

| style="text-align:left;"| UCLA

| 35 || 35 || 35.5 || .446 || .433 || .609 || 2.4 || 7.3 || 1.4 || .2 || 7.5

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 131 || 88 || 24.0 || .412 || .343 || .601 || 2.1 || 4.8 || .9 || .1 || 5.5

|-

{{S-end}}

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}