Obviously, all of us think of the EBAL this year as the league that gave us Zach Kline, the Golden Hope. But it looks as if we might be landing another big recruit that could be the best all-around local athlete on our side of the Bay.
Damariay Drew was someone who flew completely under the radar because he wasn't on a great team. Livermore has been an EBAL doormat for quite sometime. However, Drew had a great season, as profiled in SportsStars Magazine by Mitch Stephens (check it out on pages 18-20).
This season, the EBAL’s claim to fame is a trio of Division I-committed quarterbacks – San Ramon Valley’s Zach Kline (Cal), Monte Vista’s Jeff Lockie (Oregon) and De La Salle’s Bart Houston (Wisconsin).
Yet consensus with those in the know — the coaches — the league’s best all-around player resides in, of all neighborhoods, near Livermore High, the league’s undisputed doormat.
Damariay Drew is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound block of sheer speed, muscle and athleticism. "What an athlete," Monte Vista coach Craig Bergman said. "What a burst. He’s so explosive."
Said Amador Valley coach Rick Sira: "Very, very impressive."
Said Foothill coach Matt Sweeney: "The kid is a flat out stud."
Drew originally was a Bear a few weeks ago, but was a soft verbal as he'd still planned on taking visits to Oregon and Washington. After taking a look around, and taking a hard look particularly at the Huskies. Ryan Gorcey was the first to tell us that Drew has re-committed for good.
Welcome to Cal, Damariay. GO BEARS!
After the jump, more details on where Drew will play, along with video highlights.
(via topprospectcom)
You can say his skills on both side of the football and his all-around athleticism. Drew states that he will be going on the defensive side of the football at Cal though.
Drew led Livermore in rushing (936 yards), touchdowns (13), but also tackles (7.7 per game)
"I really like to hit," Drew said. "It's a lot easier for me to hit, to go after guys and just tackle people."
Greg Biggins of ESPN has more (most of the article is $):
"I had a great home visit with the Cal coaching staff Sunday night and they laid everything out for me. They were saying they wanted me as an athlete but now they’re safety/nickelback and I’m comfortable with that. The fact that Cal is close to home and has great academic support, it was just too much to pass up."