Drew Pember

Donald Andrew Pember (born June 14, 2000) is an American college basketball player for the UNC Asheville Bulldogs of the Big South Conference. He previously played for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Drew Pember
No. 4 – UNC Asheville Bulldogs
PositionPower forward
LeagueBig South Conference
Personal information
Born (2000-06-14) June 14, 2000
Knoxville, Tennessee, U. S.
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolBearden
(Knoxville, Tennessee)
College
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school

Pember grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended Bearden High School.[1] As a junior, he averaged 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, and 2.7 assists per game and was named All-District 4-AAA.[2] Pember was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college basketball at Tennessee over offers from Davidson, Mercer, and Florida Atlantic.[3]

College career

Pember played in 22 games off the bench for the Tennessee Volunteers and averaged 1.3 points and one rebound per game. He played in 10 games and averaged 2.8 minutes played per game as a sophomore.[4] Pember entered the NCAA transfer portal at the end of the season.[5]

Pember ultimately transferred to UNC Asheville.[6] He was named the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Big South after averaging 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocked shots per game in his first season with the Bulldogs.[7] Pember scored a school-record with 48 points scored in an 88-80 overtime win over Presbyterian.[8] He was named Big South Player of the Year and repeated as Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Big South at the end of the season.[9] Pember was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament after scoring 29 points in the final against Campbell.[10] He considered entering the 2023 NBA draft, but ultimately decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and return to UNC Asheville.[11]

Personal life

Pember's parents were both college athletes at Carson-Newman University, with his father playing basketball and his mother playing volleyball.[12]

References
  1. "Tennessee freshman basketball player Drew Pember makes gains before season". Chattanooga Times Free Press. October 16, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  2. "UT Vols basketball: What Bearden forward Drew Pember brings". Knoxville News Sentinel. June 13, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  3. Wilson, Mike (June 8, 2018). "Bearden forward Drew Pember commits to Tennessee Vols basketball". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  4. Ramey, Grant (March 26, 2021). "Vols sophomore forward Drew Pember enters transfer portal". 247Sports.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  5. "Drew Pember to transfer from Tennessee basketball". Knoxville News Sentinel. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  6. "Tennessee transfer Drew Pember transformed into star for UNC-Asheville". Asheville Citizen-Times. December 18, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  7. "Pember returns to Walton full of confidence". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. December 21, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  8. Gore, Mike (February 1, 2023). "Tennessee basketball transfer Drew Pember setting records at UNC Asheville". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  9. Fisher, Andy (February 28, 2023). "Drew Pember Named Big South Player of the Year, Mike Morrell Tabbed Coach of the Year". WLOS.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  10. "UNC Asheville rallies to win Big South championship". Charlotte Observer. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  11. Womack, Chris (April 4, 2023). "Big South Player of the Year Pember coming back for one more ride at UNC Asheville". WLOS.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  12. "Star center Drew Pember has UNC Asheville atop Big South". Charlotte Observer. February 27, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
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