LOS ANGELES — Franklin “Nitty” Session gained a step on his defender as he drove to the basket. With the player coming to block his shot from behind, Session slowed down and gave a shot fake as the player flew by and he laid the ball into the basket.
“The NBA killer, Frank Nitty!” Drew League public address announcer Jorge Preciado’s voice boomed over the microphone.
Session — who is coming off a 37-point performance in Week 4 — has gained a reputation at the Drew League for stepping up to the challenge when an NBA player is across the floor from him.
“They tie their shoes how I tie my shoes,” Session said. “They bleed how I bleed.”
Session, the four-time Drew League MVP, put up 23 points, six rebounds, eight assists, five steals and two blocks in Elevate’s 95-87 win over Surgeon. Elevate improves to 4-1 on the season, while Surgeon is still looking for its first win of the season.
The Watts native is a mainstay in the league and one of the bridges between the past and the future of the Drew. This season, he founded his own team, Elevate. His goal is to help bring younger players into the league and give them more notoriety.
“A lot of the times that’s what I try to do. Bring in young guys, get them some tick, get them some more notoriety,” Session said. “I feel like it’s really about helping out people who don’t get a chance to play in the Drew.”
Session has played all over the world for many different leagues from the NBA G League, the National Basketball League of Canada, the Qatari Basketball League and The BIG3, but to him, the Drew League is the most “fun version of basketball.”
“I still love it,” Session said. “At any point, I can stop playing in the Drew League, and I can go do all the other stuff I got going on, but coming back here, playing for the community, playing for the Drew, it’s home. It feels like the most fun version of basketball for me, and it pays me nothing.”
Next week, the Drew League rosters will be finalized. It will also be the first week NBA players will be allowed to participate in the league due to rules in their NBA contracts. Fans can expect the Session to be in full force.
Other notes from the Drew League and Women’s Drew League
Next week, expect an influx of NBA and NBA G League players who are now officially in their offseason. One coach of a top team in the men’s league says to expect “some special surprises.”
California Supreme Court led a majority of their matchup against Jedi, which is coached by former member of the LA Clippers Corey Maggette. However, a 25-15 fourth quarter from Jedi propelled them to a win. Cade Potter on Jedi had eight points, 10 rebounds and four assists. He hit two crucial threes in the fourth and battled for multiple offensive rebounds.
Gage and TNSS battled it out on overtime on Sunday. TNSS lost every quarter but outscored Gage 17-9 in the fourth quarter to force overtime where they went on to win. Evanne Turner had 16 points, five rebounds and two assists for TNSS.
Singer Demi Lovato made an appearance for the Women’s Drew League.
Former Lakers player and current New York Knick Julius Randle attended as a fan.
Scores from the weekend
Black Pearl Elite 89, Saints 61
Cititeam Blazers 71, Young Citi PTI 57
Dawg Pound 83, Reapers Black Ops 81
West Coast Elite 91, Hometown Favorites 78
Mecca Cheaters 76, Redemption 55
Task Force 75, Problems 73
I-Can Allstars 100, Rex 6 76
Elevate 95, Surgeon 87
Nationwide Souljas 80, Undisputed Legends 64
Jedi 74, California Supreme Court 68
Women’s Drew League
Redemption 63, Task Force 44
Lady Jedi 78, Undisputed Legends 57
Remix 56, Triple Threat 37
TNSS 59, Gage 58 (OT)