Ruben Report: Conversation With Drew Peterson
I had a chance to talk with Drew Peterson on Friday and he was very generous with his time. We covered a wide range of subjects.
Drew said that he was not highly recruited out of high school and mostly mid-major schools expressed interest. He wound up at Rice for two years. He announced he was transferring from Rice during the height of the pandemic and went home to Chicago. His parents were in Florida and he was discussing different schools he had heard from by phone with his dad. He had zoom conversations with a few schools and ultimately committed to Minnesota.
After more time passed he realized that he committed too soon and was back in contact with several schools including USC. He had a lengthy phone call with Andy Enfield and Chris Capko. They stressed how they were trying to build the basketball program into a major power like the football program. He was also impressed with what he learned about the business school and he realized there is no better place to be than LA.
When he signed with the Trojans, the transfer portal had not yet come into existence. He and the USC staff initially planned that he would redshirt and then play for two seasons. He got stronger that summer and when the NCAA transfer rules changed, he was eligible right away. With Covid canceling part of one season, like many other players around the country he gained an extra year of eligibility and had three years left to play. Drew came to USC at about 180 pounds and finished his career at 205.
Drew described his relationship with the coaches as “awesome,” especially with Enfield and Capko. He gained their trust early and they allowed him to handle the ball more as the first season went on and encouraged him to shoot more.
He initially came to USC not knowing what he wanted to do after he left school. He didn’t have any plans to play after college. Over time he began to discuss possibilities with Enfield and Capko. They pushed him to improve and talked to him about next steps.
He knew he was part of a program that was building and it was an awesome experience. They were looking to develop sustained success. Enfield and Capko helped him become consistent shooting the ball. He gained their trust which was important to how he played. They also helped him a lot with his defense. He was a below-average defender when he arrived and improved each year.
In the NCAA Tournament game against Miami, he made a couple of threes and scored enough late to tie the game with under twenty seconds left. A Miami player drove to the basket and was fouled by Ethan Anderson. Down two, the Trojans inbounded the ball to Drew with three seconds left and he took a couple of dribbles and shot from near mid-court along the right side line. He thought it was going in when he shot it and thought his shot was like Gordon Hayward of Butler’s final shot against Duke in the national title game. Both shots missed; Drew’s was just long.
He described the UCLA game the year before last as a “showcase” game for him. With Isaiah Mobley and Boogie Ellis out, Drew carried USC to a win by scoring, rebounding, and distributing. The game was a pivotal point for him. He always thought of himself as an all-around player doing what was needed to help the team and impact the game any way he could and he showed that ability against the Bruins.
Another highlight of his career was a game in which he was a couple of assists and a rebound away from a triple-double. He is also extremely proud of being a back to back All-Pac 12 first-team selection.
His first year was the Elite Eight run and the offense was built around Evan Mobley. For a number of years, USC played with two bigs. The next season Isaiah Mobley was the key to the offense. The ball often went through him when he was at the high or low post. Drew and Boogie Ellis were complimentary players and the Trojans again played with two bigs.
This past season the Trojans played with four out and he and Ellis were the key players on offense. They both handled the ball and the offense allowed them to take a lot of shots.
Last summer Vince Iwuchukwu played in scrimmages until his heart problem surfaced. Drew described Vince as “very talented with potential through the roof.” His potential was “oozing out and he can be an NBA player.”
Drew didn’t find out about Reese Dixon-Waters’ decision to enter the transfer portal until he saw it on Twitter. He hasn’t talked to Reese since the announcement.
He also hasn’t talked to Ellis and hasn’t seen him around much. He doesn’t know Ellis’ plans.
Drew has been rehabbing his back so that he will be healthy for tryouts for NBA teams.
Drew believes Capko is totally ready to be a head coach. Copko’s opportunity is “a little overdue.”
I asked Drew if his style of play compared to former Bruin Kyle Anderson, who is about the same size and also not particularly quick. Drew said that’s a “solid comparison.” Anderson has played nine seasons in the NBA for San Antonio, Memphis and this season in Minnesota. Anderson is 6’9” and 230 pounds so Drew probably needs to gain some more weight.
Drew’s Future Plans
He is finishing his business degree with one last class this semester. The class is at noon on Mondays and he set it up so he could focus on basketball.
He is training and hopes to hear from some NBA teams. On Friday he hired Chris Emens of Octagon Athlete Representation as his agent. Emens’ basketball clients include Memphis Grizzlies forward David Roddy who has spent some time in the G League and former Colorado great McKinley Wright IV who is currently on a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
Enfield has given advice to Drew and used his connections to help him. Some teams have reached and he is optimistic. He went through the process last year and is familiar with how it works. The next few months are very important.
If he isn’t drafted he wants to play in the G League with the goal of getting to the NBA at some point. He has no plans to play in Europe or anywhere else.
And One
I will miss Drew, not only for his play but losing the opportunity to talk to him. He always responded to requests for interviews and we talked many times for a couple of minutes after a practice and on other occasions. Drew represented the Trojans well and his leadership will be missed.
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