drell

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Recruiting Update: PF/SF Adam Drell--(Aug. 31, 1999)

We've been following the development of Adam Drell (6'-6" Sr. PF/SF) from LA Chatsworth High the past few years and we were disappointed (not as disappointed as Adam was) when we learned that he had injured his back just before the start of the summer open-evaluation period. The result was that he missed all of the camps and tournaments, didn't play in Vegas, and only recently returned to playing and working out at full strength. While it may have hurt his recruitment a little, he's still getting actively recruited by a bunch of some excellent low to mid D-I programs, as well as several Ivy League schools. He's got better than a 4.0 average (he's taken just about every AP course offered) and has scored better than 1250 on the SAT, so he's the kind of player who will, by the end of spring, should be in demand. Word is he'll wait until spring to make any decisions.

Adam is strong, agile player, with good speed and hops, but for the past two years he's mostly played with his back to the basket, which has been great for his Chatsworth team since he's developed into a real rebounder and banger, with a good post-up game, nice great footwork. But at the college level, especially D-I, there's not much call for 6'-6" post players, and he's really got the speed and strength to project out at the three, so he's been working on establishing his face-up game. Adam has been under the tutelage this summer of well-known coach and trainer Ken Krofft (yes, the same Ken Krofft who has coached lots of local college players in the Say No Summer League, including many current and former UCLA players. . . he's also the same guy who walked into Pauley Pavilion with Grant Hill the day of Carlos Boozer's official visit to UCLA, and we all know where Boozer is now. . . .not that Kenny had anything to do with that. . . :-) Ken is actually a huge UCLA fan and alum, so you know we're just kidding about the Boozer stuff. . . Ken also works with many pro players when they are in town and he's been known to frequent the UCLA Men's gym from time to time, so you know he plays a pretty mean game himself. :-) ). We spoke with Ken this past weekend, and he told us he's very impressed with Adam's game, and sees him developing as a real scoring threat and an impact player at the college level. "He's really just now learning to face the basket, and he's discovering that it's opening up a whole new world for him. He's very strong, tough and athletic, and he understands the game well," Krofft told us. "He is working on improving his already good footwork, and with his athleticism and strength, he's learning there's a lot more to the game than the rebounding he's been used to doing for his high school team. "

While Adam seems to be favoring schools in the east, Big West, WCC and Big Sky schools should really take a look at him. Adam will be playing in two weeks (Sept. 10-12) at the Long Beach Fall Hoops Classic at Long Beach City College for the Monsters of the Midway team.