Former Old Bridge Standout Plays in 27 of Cougars 28 Games in 2014-15
CALDWELL, NJ–While former high school teammate Sultan Aminu was completing his sophomore season at Division II East Stroudsburg University, Tyler Drews was completing his freshman season at Caldwell University of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Drews, who became the 2nd player in Old Bridge High School history to score 1,000 points, and the school’s all time leading scorer during his senior season last year, was a solid contributor to the Cougars, which finished 15-13 overall including an 11-8 record in the CACC North Division, which earned them a tie for 2nd place with Post University.
Losing the regular season tie-breaker with Post University thanks to the 2-0 series sweep by the Eagles, Caldwell University was seeded third in the CACC post-season tournament, and played Holy Family University of Philadelphia, the second seeded team from the CACC’s South Division in the quarterfinals. In that quarterfinal match-up, which also featured another GMC player, Marvin Crawford, who was a standout at J.P. Stevens, the Cougars came up short 73-69 as Crawford helped lead the Tigers with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Holy Family eventually lost to Wilmington in the CACC Semifinals, and finished the season at 22-8.
Returning to Drews, the Old Bridge Native played in 27 of Caldwell’s 28 games this season, and averaged 6.4 minutes, 2.0 points, and 1.1 rebounds per game. Drews connected on 18 of 49 shots from the floor overall for about 37 percent including 10 of 30 from beyond the arc. He also was nearly perfect at the line going 7 of 8 from the charity stripe. Drews ranked 8th on the team in minutes played this season, 5th in three point attempts, 6th in three point field goal percentage, and 2nd in free throw shooting percentage. His best scoring performance of the season came in a loss to Post University on February 10th when he scored 10 points on 4 of 7 shooting including 2 of 4 from three point range while also grabbing 3 rebounds in 18 minutes playing time. In a loss against Dowling on November 30, 2014, Drews collected 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal in 23 minutes of action.
Drews also made some solid contributions in two other games. In a 63-60 victory at Felician on November 25, 2014, he made 2 of 3 shots, both three pointers to score 6 points in only 8 minutes of action. Then, in an 85-76 loss at home to Holy Family, Drews sank two more threes for 6 points while also collecting 3 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in just 10 minutes of playing time. GMC Hoops also saw Drews in action in an early season game at home against Molloy College of New York. The Cougars won a wild one, 80-77 after leading by 18 in the first half. Drews played five minutes in that game, and collected a rebound.