Drew Fitzwater
Twitter- @DrewFitzwater34
Instagram- @dfitz.34
6'7, 240lbs, c/o 25
Greater Beckley Christian School, WV
Drew is a crafty big with strong handles and a versatile shooting skill set. He has a high court IQ and great court awareness. Drew can pull up on a dime and bring the rain from deep or use those handles to attack off the bounce. Drew can play from the post as a master facilitator dropping nice dimes. Drew likes to play at his own pace and use his size, skillset, and footwork to take advantage of his opponents. Drew can take undisciplined defenders off the dribble, use his height against smaller defenders inside, and use his footwork to lose them and get easy looks. If Drew doesn't have a shot he is always looking for an open teammate. If they aren't cutting, Drew will attack and force their defender to help, leaving his teammates wide open for a shot. Drew is always looking to get his team the best shot, even if he is not the one who gets it. Drew thinks his biggest strengths are his height and his ability to read defenses. Drew uses his basketball IQ, to his advantage against defenders. On defense, Drew uses his height and reach for easy blocks and steals, and he uses his frame to box out defenders to get easy defensive rebounds. Drew also never shies away from taking charge, as he loves making game-changing plays for his team!
Something that happened last season that motivates Drew is making it to the state tournament and losing in the first round. Losing leaves a bad taste in his mouth, and Drew doesn't want to experience that feeling of coming up short on the biggest stage again. Drew's biggest goal for this season at GBC is to be a leader and a game-changer. Drew is very excited for the opportunity to play at Greater Beckley, under Coach Arvon and alongside some of his long-time friends. He believes that they have a real shot at a state title. The ultimate goal is obviously to be cutting down the nets in March. As far as academics, Drew's goal is to maintain his 4.2 GPA and continue preparing academically for college.
Playing AAU for the West Virginia Reign his goal was to continue to work and improve while showcasing his talents against top competition. Drew had a great AAU coach in Ronnie Nuzum who emphasizes constant improvement and exposure. He has played a huge part in his recruitment and improvement this summer. Drew averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks per game earning 16x Big Shots player of the game awards and 6x Big Shots tournament all-star awards. Drew's main focus area of improvement is his ball handling. Drew is continuing to work to be the player that can grab a defensive rebound and lead the break, or catch the ball on the wing and create a shot for himself or his teammates.
The thing that fuels Drew the most is succeeding for all the people who have always believed in him. When Drew is on the court, he plays for his coaches, teammates, and family who have been there for him since day 1. Getting an and 1, taking a charge, or blocking a shot are things that fire Drew up during the game.
Drew handles adversity by calming himself down. Everybody in basketball is going to make mistakes, and the way Drew handles them is by not getting upset about them. When he can't get his shot going, Drew tries to get inside and get a layup to see the ball go in the rim, or he tries to find some of his teammates who are hitting their shots that night. When Drew is inside getting fouled and is not getting any calls, he doesn't get mad or feel sorry for himself. It only makes him fight and work harder. Drew tells himself to let the game come to him and to not force anything.
Something a coach can see in Drew that sets him apart is court awareness & IQ. Drew has always had a great mind for the game, and a great understanding of how the game flows. Drew is great at reading defenses and offenses, as he can pick up quickly on certain tactics that he can exploit. Drew also has great spatial awareness, especially in pick-and-roll type situations. This year at GBC, Drew thinks the pick and roll will be a very big part of their play style. Especially, because of his ability to space the floor out and knock down threes.
Drew can see himself playing in any division. Drew currently holds two offers from Regent University and Randolph College, both Division 3 programs in Virginia. Drew believes that with more work and improvement, he can begin to receive offers from Division 2, Division 1, and NAIA programs. Drew is excited to see what opportunities God presents to him. He knows that as long as he keeps improving and working the sky will be the limit!
I assess that Drew is one of the most underrated big men in WV. The intangibles and skill set he brings are extremely high level. Drew is a double-double machine with the size and versatility coaches seek. With the improvement Drew has made over the summer, the stage is set for a monster breakout season with more offers. This young star has all the tools in his bag. Drew's stock should soar by season's end and if he helps his team win state, look out. Stay tuned!!
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