The Drew League entered its sixth week of play on July 6 and 7 at King Drew Magnet High School. Black Pearl Elite continues its winning streak but some teams who haven’t performed as well made roster additions to boost their squad.
The big question moving forward is what big players will show up. Kevin Punter, who was a standout scorer last season in the Euroleague, helped Undisputed Legends get a win. Very few players in the league will have a chance to contain Punter.
Here are a few things to look out for at the Drew League in the coming weeks.
Black Pearl Elite remains unbeaten
Black Pearl Elite (B.P.E.) coached by Lamar Gayle and Cedrick Lusk is the only remaining unbeaten team in the Drew League. B.P.E. features former LA Clipper Montrezl Harrell, who finished with 25 points and eight rebounds in a 79-70 win over Hometown Favorites.
Harrell only missed one field goal attempt out of his 10 shots. Last summer, Harrell played with the 2023 Drew League Champions Tuff Fades. Players went their separate directions this season with Franklin Session starting his own team, Elevate.
Harrell, who last played in the NBA in 2023 with the Philadelphia 76ers, said his goal for Elite is to win the Drew League.
“It’s going to take consistent play like we’re doing,” Harrell said. “We’re going to have to keep defending and going to have to keep putting together great quarters.”
B.P.E has made deep playoff runs the past few seasons but hasn’t secured a championship. This season the team has brought on younger talent to supplement the roster.
One of those younger players is DJ Brewton, who played for Cal State Fullerton last season. Brewton is a shifty guard who thrives in the open floor setting of the Drew where he can use his elusive handle and shot-making ability.
Brewton had 23 points on 10-for-10 shooting from the field and has been a key contributor in all of the team’s matchups.
“We’re just trying to win a championship,” Gayle said. “We’ve been at it for seven years and been in two finals in a row.”
B.P.E won’t have Kyree Walker until potentially the playoffs. Walker was a key player for the team before he departed for his season with the Canadian Basketball League.
B.P.E. will face off against the Nationwide Souljas on Saturday at 3 p.m.
New addition for Undisputed Legends
For the most part, the Drew League made up of current professionals from overseas and the NBA and college players along with a few elite high school players.
But Kevin Punter on Undisputed Legends is a different level of player. In his first week with his team, Punter scored 29 points on 10 of 14 shooting from the field, including this stepback jumper with a defender draped on him in a 103-78 win over the Jedi.
Kevin Punter lighting it up in the Drew League right now. Two nasty pull up three pointers.
Punter played last season for FC Barcelona basketball in the Euroleague and averaged 15 ppg last season.
Definitely an NBA level talent. pic.twitter.com/AaR5ooizwX
— Matthew Ho (@mho_kj) July 6, 2024
Punter went undrafted in 2016 and played for the Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League team after graduating from Tennessee. He’s been one of the best scorers in the Euroleague. Last season he averaged 15 points per game for Partizan Mozzart Bet in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Jedi, who are coached by former LA Clipper and longtime NBA veteran Corey Maggette, opted to double-team Punter in pick-and-roll scenarios to get the ball out of his hands, but Undisputed Legends countered by having Punter isolate his defender and get his own shot off.
Many teams are expected to bring in high-level talent from overseas and the NBA as the summer goes along. Undisputed Legends were 1-4 coming into the game but their outlook changes with Punter.
Other game notes
Overseas veteran Jerome Randle scored 30 points as the Cititeam Blazers took down Nationwide Soujas 83-82. Blazers and Souljas are now tied at 4-2.
For Rex 6, Wali Hepburn dropped 33 points and hit a game-winning fading three-pointer at the buzzer in a back and forth matchup versus Dawg Pound. Rex 6 improves to 2-4 and hands Dawg Pound their second loss of the season after starting off 4-1.
In a battle between two 4-1 teams, the I-Can All Stars beat the Mecca Cheaters 66-62. Noel Scott for I-Can All Stars was named Player of the Game with 16 points, five rebounds and five steals.
West Coast Elite had the highest point differential in the Drew League and led by double-digits against the Saints. The Saints made a run to get back into the game but West Coast Elite held on for an 81-78 win. MVP candidate Deshawndre Washington scored 20 points in the win.
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Score from the weekend
Black Pearl Elite 79, Hometown Favorites 70
Undisputed Legends 103, Jedi 78
Problems 83, Elevate 66
Reapers Black Ops 111, Surgeon 106
Cititeam Blazers 83, Nationwide Souljas 82
Rex 6 82, Dawg Pound. 79
Task Force 82, Redemption 62
I-Can Allstars 66, Mecca Cheaters 62
West Coast Elite 81, Saints 78
California Supreme Court 70, Young Citi PTI 53,
Women’s Drew League
After winning Week 5 Player of the Week, Imani McGee, who is the daughter of former WNBA player and Los Angeles Sparks standout, Pamela McGee and half-sister of NBA player JaVale McGee dropped had 25 points and 16 rebounds in the Remix’s 67-60 win over Undisputed Legends. McGee is in a strong position for the MVP race.
TNSS 57, Task Force 47
Remix 67, Undisputed Legends 60
Redemption 70, Lady Jedi 53
GAGE 48, Triple Threat 46
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Drew League: Session, Elevate shine in Week 5 with NBA players on the horizon