John Drew

John Edward Drew (September 30, 1954 – April 10, 2022) was an American professional basketball player. A small forward from Gardner–Webb University, he played eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Drew was a two-time NBA All-Star, and was the first player banned under the substance abuse policy instituted by league commissioner David Stern. Early life Drew was born in Vredenburgh, Alabama, on September 30, 1954. He attended J.F. Shields High School in Beatrice, Alabama. He led the school to a state championship in 1972. He set the Alabama High School Athletic Association career scoring average record with 41.0 points per game. College career After graduating from high school, Drew played basketball at Gardner–Webb University. He averaged 24.4 points during his freshman year, before improving to 25.9 points and 13 rebounds as a sophomore. He was selected in the second round of the 1974 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He would later be joined by Artis Gilmore and Eddie Lee Wilkins as the only alumni of Gardner–Webb University to play in the NBA. Professional career