Prospect Spotlight: Drew Daniel (2020)

With three starters returning from last season’s state team, plus additional firepower, there’s a lot of expectations for Dowling Catholic next season.

A key player from last season's team was 6-foot-6 wing Drew Daniel. He averaged 8.1 points and led the 13-11 Maroons with 41 made 3s. 

“I’m a shooter, I’m a guy that can space the floor. I’m out there on the wing or the corner out there trying to hit those shots. I feel like that's not the case, I’d be more trying to make plays for others, get other guys open,” said Daniel. 

“On defense, I just try and not to let my guy score and just do my part, and then I’m trying to be a good rebounder and try and get rebounds every possession, that’s just kind of my job,” said Daniel. 

“This year I was the main 3-point shooter for my team, and if we needed a 3 or a bucket, that was my job just to get one off.”

Expectations for next season will be high for Daniel and Co. The team’s three leading scorers, Matt Stilwill, Ryan Riggs and Daniel are back. The Maroons also will feature one of the nation's most highly regarded incoming freshman, Omaha Biliew. 

The group has been spending this summer learning to mesh together a team camps. 

“A lot of people look at us and see we have three returning starters and one of the best kids in the country in his class. And this summer, since we have such high expectations, we might have overlooked some games,” Daniel said. “But it’s also a thing where we have to learn to play better with this group.”

In addition to playing with Dowling in team camps,  Daniel has been playing with All Iowa Attack Red 17u and was selected as one of 40 Iowa guys to play at the Midwest Showcase down in Missouri in June. 

“That was really cool, it was some of the better talent from across the Midwest,” Daniel said. “And I’m really excited to get back to working with them and working with Lefty (Moore),” said Daniel. “It’s my last AAU go around, so I’m just looking forward to it and trying to make the most of it.”

Recruitment: “Basketball is my main sport, it’s my only sport right now. I’ve been getting looks from Central, Simpson, Loras, Wartburg, Midland and St. Thomas, also Missouri-St. Louis. A lot of local schools,” said Daniel. “But I’m really just excited for it all. I know I want to play basketball after high school, and I’m just looking forward to meeting coaches and seeing where it takes me.”