Ferndale boys basketball star Jason (Deuce) Drake has decided to sign with Cleveland State for his college hoops.
Drake was deliberate in the recruiting process, waiting until the final hour of his senior year to pull the trigger. Ironically, Drake displayed one of the quickest shot-releases in recent memory. He chose Cleveland State over Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Toledo, Bowling Green, Purdue-Ft. Wayne, Northern Illinois and UW-Wisconsin.
The coldblooded 6-foot-1 combo guard averaged 18 points, four assists and four rebounds per game the past two seasons for the OAA Red champion Eagles. Drake and Loyola (IL)-signee Treyvon Lewis led Ferndale to back-to-back appearances in the Division 2 final four in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Like all the true greats, Drake played big in big games, such as his two times playing in the state semifinals under the bright lights at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, where he showed his bonafides in consecutive losses to Grand Rapids Catholic Central, the state champion in 2021 and the state runner-up in 2022. In those two state tournaments, Drake posted 20 points per outing, including a 27-point, six-rebound, four-assist outburst in the 2021 semis.
Drake got to Ferndale as a junior after two seasons playing in the Catholic League with Orchard Lake St. Mary's.
"From Day 1, Deuce was onboard with what we were trying to do. … He was unselfish and we all thrived together as a program," Ferndale head coach Juan Rickman said. "The kid can score, shoot and finish and he turned himself into a top-rate defender the last couple years. Everything we ever asked of him, he did and he didn't blink. Deuce Drake is one heck of a competitor and I know Cleveland State will realize that right off the bat."
Notable football offers
Rochester Adams junior quarterback Parker Picot snared his second DI football offer from UMass.
Rochester Adams junior safety Nick Patera picked up his first DI offer from Air Force.
Southfield A&T sophomore wide receiver Tashi Braceful bagged his first DI offer from Minnesota.
West Bloomfield junior cornerback Jamir Benjamin collected his second SEC bid from Missouri, as well as one from Wisconsin.
Novi Detroit Catholic Central junior wide receiver Jack Davis reeled in a DII offer from Northwood.
Tweet of the Week
"Loyer up!" — former Clarkston parent Katie Loyer on the news that her sons, Foster (Clarkston '18) and Fletcher (played at Clarkston in 2019, 2020) will face each other on the college hardwood next season when Davidson and Purdue go at it in an NCAA non-conference affair.
Ferndale vs. Detroit Country Day boys basketball district photo gallery
