University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Drew Pember '24 Re-Signs with Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers
07.10.2026 | Men's Basketball
Hsinchu, Taiwan – One of the most decorated players in UNC Asheville men's basketball history, Drew Pember ('24), has re-signed with the Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers, the club announced last week, securing his return as a core piece of the organization's roster for the upcoming season.
The organization confirmed that Pember, a versatile forward and key frontcourt presence, will continue to wear the purple uniform after a standout season in Taiwan's professional ranks. Known for his all-around impact on both ends of the floor, Pember quickly established himself as one of the league's most productive and disruptive forwards.
During the 2025–26 campaign, Pember averaged 18.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game, ranking among the league's most complete players. His performance earned multiple Player of the Week honors, a selection to the TPBL All-League Second Team, and consideration for the league's Foreign Player of the Year award.
At UNC Asheville, Pember was the first back-to-back Big South Men's Basketball Player of the Year honoree since 2008–09 and only the seventh multiple-time winner in league history. He is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Preseason Player of the Year, and the fifth back-to-back recipient of the Howard Bagwell Male Athlete of the Year Award since its inception in 1999–00—the first basketball player to earn the honor in consecutive years.
Pember is a two-time Lou Henson All-America Team honoree and a two-time NABC All-District selection. He was the Big South Tournament MVP in 2023 and earned All-Tournament Team honors in 2024. He became the first Bulldog in program history to compete in the NABC Reese's All-Star Game and also participated in the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
The summer after he graduated, Pember competed in the NBA Summer League with the Charlotte Hornets in Sacramento and the Memphis Grizzlies in Las Vegas before continuing his professional career overseas.
In his final season at UNC Asheville, Pember led the Big South in scoring at 20.6 points per game and was just the eighth player in league history to average 20.0 points in back-to-back seasons. He finished fourth nationally with 228 made free throws and ninth in attempts. He concluded his career as the only player in Big South history with at least 1,900 points (1,902), 700 rebounds (795), and 200 blocked shots (236). He also graduated at No. 16 in conference history in points, No. 18 in rebounds, and No. 6 in blocks.
