#34 George Drake Season 2007-08
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General:
Athletically gifted player who possesses a good shooting touch and good attitude for the game. Sat out the 2005-06 season as a redshirt…He will be the most tenured player on the team in 2009-10.
2008-09 (Junior):
Played in 30 games and started four…Averaged 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game as a junior…Scored in double figures on seven occasions, including a three-game stretch from January 20 to January 28 when he started two games and scored 16 points against Tennessee (1/20), 14 points against Florida (1/25), and a career-high 18 points at South Carolina (1/28)… Set career-highs in field goals made (8) and FG attempts (15) vs. Tennessee (1/20)…Led team in scoring for the first time in his career versus Florida…Had career-high six assists at Central Arkansas (11/26) to go along with 14 points… Tallied 12 points and four rebounds against Tennessee Tech (12/20)… Notched eight points on 4-of-6 shooting in season-high 29 minutes vs. Auburn (1/31)…Missed his only game of the season against Alabama (2/5) because of injury… Scored 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting in 27 minutes off the bench at Florida (2/21)… Also scored in double figures against Alabama in the SEC Tournament (3/12) with 14 points on six-of-eight shooting.
2007-08 (Sophomore):
Played in 33 games and started in one…Made first career start against Valparaiso (11/20)…Scored six points vs. Utah State (11/23); scored five points vs. Bradley (11/24) in SPI final…Tallied seven points against Lipscomb…Had season high three steals in win over Tennessee-Martin…Scored career-high 10 points in win against Iona…Had three blocked shots vs. Auburn (2/2), a new career high…Played a season-best 18 minutes vs. Lipscomb (12/8)…Grabbed a season-high four rebounds on three occasions – vs. Wake Forest (12/5), vs. Lipscomb (12/8), and vs. UT Martin (12/29).
2006-07 (Redshirt Freshman):
Played in 33 games without a start, averaging 10.3 minutes … Hit a pair of 3-pointers and matched his career high with eight points vs. George Washington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (3/15) … Scored his SEC-high seven points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field at Georgia (1/10) … Posted his career-high eight points and three rebounds against ETSU (12/5) … Also tallied eight points and seven rebounds against UPR-Mayaguez (12/19) … Helped spark Vanderbilt[apos]s rally past cross-town foe Lipscomb (12/7) with key 3-pointer to tie game at 38-38 with 9:21 remaining. The Commodores outscored Lipscomb 21-12 the rest of the game.
Summer 2006:
Averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in four games during a mission trip to the Dominican Republic sponsored by SCORE International. The group also visited local tribes and orphanages during the week-long trip.
2005-06 (Freshman):
Redshirted.
Calera High School:
McDonald[apos]s All-American nominee … Named to 2005 First Team Super Five and 2A Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association … Runner-up for 2005 Alabama Mr. Basketball … Named 2A Player of the Year as a sophomore, junior and senior … Earned distinction as first player in Alabama history to be selected as Most Valuable Player of region four times … Led Calera High School to a combined 121-19 record and the state championship game every year he was on the varsity team (2002-2005) … Led the Eagles to the 2005 2A championship, scoring a team-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds, five blocks and three steals in the title game … Averaged 22.6 points and 8.5 rebounds during his senior season … Scored an Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game record 27 points en route to Most Valuable Player honors … Averaged 27.4 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 59 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range as a junior.
Personal:
George Alexander Drake Jr. … Born Oct. 5, 1986 … Son of Dorothy and George Drake … Has a brother Floyd Avery and sister Myia Vines … Majoring in Sociology with a minor in Political Science … Advice to youngsters: ‘Don[apos]t procrastinate’ … Chose Vanderbilt over Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Auburn.