Latest news with #BryceDrew
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
7-Foot College Basketball Recruit Makes Final Commitment Decision on Friday
7-Foot College Basketball Recruit Makes Final Commitment Decision on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. More than a decade after a strong playing career at Valparaiso, Bryce Drew stepped into his father's shoes as the Crusaders' head coach. Over five seasons, he racked up 124 wins, including 58 in his final two years. Advertisement Drew led Valparaiso to the NCAA Tournament twice before leaving for a higher profile job at Vanderbilt. Things didn't go as planned in Nashville, and he went 40-59 over three seasons, but his dismissal there eventually led to his current role at Grand Canyon University. With the Antelopes, Drew has thrived, posting a 120-40 record over five seasons. Grand Canyon has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of Drew's five seasons, winning a first-round game as a No. 12 seed against No. 5 Saint Mary's in 2024. Now, Drew is reloading for a fourth consecutive tournament appearance. On Friday, he secured a major addition to his roster. According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express and ESPN, "Turkish center Efe Demirel has committed to Grand Canyon." "The 20-year-old played rotation minutes for Karsiyaka in the first division," Givony posted on X. "Skilled, mobile 7-footer had 18+7 in his last game. Significant addition for Bryce Drew." Advertisement Demirel began his pro career in 2021-22 with Lima SK Denergi in the TB2L and made his debut with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2022-23. During the 2022-23 U18 Tournament, he started four games, scoring 15 points and pulling down 15 rebounds across the event. Grand Canyon University head coach Bryce Drew. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Demirel will join 6-foot-9 sophomore Kaleb Smith, who averaged 11 points per game for UC Riverside last season. Smith, who has two years of eligibility remaining, announced his transfer to Grand Canyon on May 2. Both big men will help offset the departures of Duke Brennan and JaKobe Coles. The Antelopes also added 6-foot-8 forward Nana Owusu-Anane from Brown University. He missed the 2024-25 season due to injury but was a standout in 2023-24, averaging 14.7 points per game and earning second-team All-Ivy League honors. Advertisement Related: Kansas' Bill Self Makes Staff Move After Disappointing Season Related: Florida Commit Xaivian Lee Makes Historic NIL Announcement on Thursday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vanderbilt vs. Saint Mary's officially set. Time, date for March Madness first round game
Vanderbilt basketball is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2017. The No. 10 seed Commodores (20-12) will face No. 7 seed Saint Mary's (28-5) in their opening game in Cleveland. That game will be held at 2:15 p.m. Friday on truTV. In five seasons under Jerry Stackhouse, Vanderbilt did not qualify for the NCAA tournament. The Commodores also did not qualify in the final two years under Bryce Drew. In its last tournament appearance in 2017, Vanderbilt was a No. 9 seed that lost to No. 8 seed Northwestern in the first round. Now, first-year coach Mark Byington has taken the Commodores to the tournament. HOW TO WATCH VANDERBILT BASKETBALL IN NCAA TOURNAMENT The last Sweet 16 appearance for the Commodores was in 2007. They have one Elite Eight in program history, in 1965. Date: Friday, March 21. Game time: 2:15 p.m. JASON EDWARDS Why Jason Edwards transferred to Vanderbilt basketball to put 'world on notice' Channel: truTV. Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@ or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary's game time, TV: March Madness first round
