The Drew League is heating up, and the NBA players have arrived including the Los Angeles Lakers power forward, Julius Randle.
The Drew League is made of up of long-time Drew League players like Speedy, Fifty, Frank Nitty Sessions, Kirpatrick McCauley and Big Rod (don’t ask ha ha). In addition to the legends, high school players like uncommitted Marvin Bagley Jr., Oregon State’s Ethan Thompson and Arizona Basketball’s freshmen Ira Lee play. Add to the equation current college players like USC’s Elijah Stewart and Oregon’s Jordan Bell (last season).
Anything can happen in The Drew League, but it is an exceptional game when your NBA USC Alumni Nick Young includes you on their team in a crucial playoff decision game. That’s exactly what happened to USC forward Elijah Stewart this past Sunday.
As of June 30th, NBA players were allowed to join their teams. The King Drew High School gym has been packed ever since. Nick Young‘s Redemption team took on Baron Davis‘s Reapers team, and the winner would secure a spot in The Drew League Playoffs. The Repears hit the court with Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle, whose family was sitting court side.
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The last game of the weekend was electric, complete with Young’s third-quarter exit when the referee’s missed some calls in a very tight game. Young and Davis went mano-a-mano for a series of plays and Davis played some mad defense causing Young to lunge into the front row of chairs at one point.
Randle was a beast on the court, and the rest of his team held their own. Here is a big taste of the game from under one of the baskets.
Voice of the Drew League, George Preciado, narrates the entire game, and it can be hysterical calling out Nick Young as being “Most Hated Player” after his company name. It’s a miracle that Preciado remembers everyone’s name as the rosters are seldom correct and some players play with pseudo names as if we didn’t know who they were.
@Lou_weezy_ana @nickswagypyoung @DrewLeague @J30_RANDLE https://t.co/Ss1habSor2
— Shereen Rayan - Sports Broadcaster/Writer (@SportsCrazee) July 16, 2017
Randle not only looks like he is in the best shape of his life, his motor is in full tact. Randle played what seemed the entire game. He rebounded convincingly, dunked with abandon, kept his cool while Young couldn’t as he was just a major force on the court.
Last season in the Drew League, Randle played okay but did not make much of a difference. That is no longer the case; he was a major factor in the 94-82 win, dominant was an understatement.
USC’s Elijah Stewart joined Randle and Young in playing the entire game. Impressive when a college senior can play just as intensely with NBA players. That just shows you that experience in the NCAA can help a player be ready for the NBA. Stewart decided to return to school along with Chemezie Metu and Benny Boatwright, and the team is felt to be a contender along with the Arizona Wildcats for a Pac-12 title.
I caught up with Elijah Stewart on playing with Randle and Young and what he is working on next season, which includes highlights from the game (produced by Oliver Raya):
It only gets more heated from this point on as teams vie for seeds in the tournament all trying to take down rapper The Game’s team Birdies Revenge (9-0) and Houdini’s Problems (10-0), who attempt to remain undefeated. Randle is ready for greatness, shedding his former point guard and gaining a new squad who has already bought into the coaches ‘team ball’. Cannot lie; I am looking forward to the season now.