andrew pleick signs with drake

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Andrew Pleick Signs Letter
Of Intent At Drake--(April 15, 1999)

Los Alamitos' Andrew Pleick (6'-4" Sr. SG) has reportedly signed a National Letter of Intent and will play at Drake in Des Moines, Iowa, next year, according to a report in the LA Times Orange County edition. Pleick is a native of Sweden who played in Europe and was this year's Sunset League MVP. He was also chosen to the LA Times All-Orange County First Team. Andrew, a slender and athletic shooting guard averaged 15.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists this past season. Pleick originally committed to Davidson, but last month reported that he had changed his mind. There were also rumors floating around for the past few weeks that he might sign with several local schools, including Fullerton and UC Irvine, but the signing obviously puts a stop to such talk.

Drake is an unusual choice, at least as far as we can ascertain. Last season, they finished 10-17 overall, 5-14 in conference play, and their leading scorer Matt Woodley, a 5'-11" Jr. G, averaged only 12.2 points per game. In 1996-97 Drake was 2-26 (.071) and in 1997-98 they were 3-24 (.111), so they are improving each year, if only slightly. Kurt Kanaskie, who was formerly the head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (yeah, sounds weird, doesn't it, IU in PA?), a division II school, had been extremely successful prior to experiencing the last three years of drought at Drake. But Andrew, an excellent shooter, should help to further improve their record and he could be an impact player immediately.

Congratulations to Drake and to Andrew.