University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Drew Pember will return for the 2023-24 Season
03.29.2023 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville men's basketball player Drew Pember announced Wednesday that he will be returning to the Bulldogs for the 2023-24 season. Pember, the reigning Big South Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year (twice), and Tournament MVP, will look to help the Bulldogs defend their Big South Regular Season and Tournament Championships next season.
Pember is coming off one of the best seasons ever by a Big South player in 2022-23. Pember is not only the first player in conference history to lead the league in scoring, rebounding, and blocks in a single season but he is also the first player in Big South history to be named the Preseason Player of the Year, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Tournament MVP in the same campaign. He was also named the Big South Player of the Week five times.
"This season meant a lot to me," said Pember. "Individual accolades are nice but winning the Big South Tournament and getting to experience going to the NCAA Tournament with my teammates is something I'll always remember. We won a lot of games and our team will go down as one of the best in school history. I'm extremely blessed and proud to be a part of it."
The Knoxville, Tennessee native had plenty of stats to back up the awards he received. He broke Asheville's single season scoring record (733 points) along with free throws made (266) and attempted (318) records. His 266 makes from the line are the 10th-most in the history of Division I men's basketball and leads the nation in 2022-23. His 733 points scored are the seventh-most in the country and his blocked shot total of 80 is tenth in Division I. Furthermore, he broke the school's single-game scoring record with 48 points vs. Presbyterian back on January 25. The 48 points scored by Pember are the most points scored by a Division I player in a game this season.
"I hold myself to a high standard and I feel like I still have room to improve and grow," Pember said. "I want to go back to the NCAA Tournament and win another Big South Championship. We have an amazing coaching staff and we'll return a bunch of players from this year. I feel like there's a lot of stuff that we can improve on as a team and I include myself in that. I felt like it was best for me to come back. It's an exciting time for the program and I'm already looking forward to next year."
Following the Big South Tournament, Pember earned additional accolades. He earned All-District honors from both the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and the NABC. Furthermore, he was named a finalist for the Lute Olson (Top Player in Division I) and Lou Henson (Top Mid-Major Player) National Player of the Year Awards.
With Pember returning, the Bulldogs are set to return four of their five starters from the 2022-23 Big South Regular Season and Tournament Championship team.
Pember is coming off one of the best seasons ever by a Big South player in 2022-23. Pember is not only the first player in conference history to lead the league in scoring, rebounding, and blocks in a single season but he is also the first player in Big South history to be named the Preseason Player of the Year, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Tournament MVP in the same campaign. He was also named the Big South Player of the Week five times.
"This season meant a lot to me," said Pember. "Individual accolades are nice but winning the Big South Tournament and getting to experience going to the NCAA Tournament with my teammates is something I'll always remember. We won a lot of games and our team will go down as one of the best in school history. I'm extremely blessed and proud to be a part of it."
The Knoxville, Tennessee native had plenty of stats to back up the awards he received. He broke Asheville's single season scoring record (733 points) along with free throws made (266) and attempted (318) records. His 266 makes from the line are the 10th-most in the history of Division I men's basketball and leads the nation in 2022-23. His 733 points scored are the seventh-most in the country and his blocked shot total of 80 is tenth in Division I. Furthermore, he broke the school's single-game scoring record with 48 points vs. Presbyterian back on January 25. The 48 points scored by Pember are the most points scored by a Division I player in a game this season.
"I hold myself to a high standard and I feel like I still have room to improve and grow," Pember said. "I want to go back to the NCAA Tournament and win another Big South Championship. We have an amazing coaching staff and we'll return a bunch of players from this year. I feel like there's a lot of stuff that we can improve on as a team and I include myself in that. I felt like it was best for me to come back. It's an exciting time for the program and I'm already looking forward to next year."
Following the Big South Tournament, Pember earned additional accolades. He earned All-District honors from both the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and the NABC. Furthermore, he was named a finalist for the Lute Olson (Top Player in Division I) and Lou Henson (Top Mid-Major Player) National Player of the Year Awards.
With Pember returning, the Bulldogs are set to return four of their five starters from the 2022-23 Big South Regular Season and Tournament Championship team.
Players Mentioned
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