Big point: 6-6 Drechsel picks GCU

Trey Drechsel always believed he was a Division I-caliber player, whether it was in high school when he was the state player of the year for Washington's smallest class or in college when he starred the past three seasons at Division II Western Washington.

There is no doubt now. Amid 15 Division I offers, Drechsel chose to transfer to Grand Canyon for his senior season.

Drechsel, a 6-foot-6 point guard, can help GCU immediately with sophomore-to-be Damari Milstead as the Lopes' only returning point guard for 2018-19. GCU also is adding former Northwestern point guard Isiah Brown but he will sit out the upcoming season as a Division I transfer.

Drechsel was the Lopes' fourth roster addition in four days with Brown, Illinois transfer Michael Finke and Phoenix native and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College guard J.J. Rhymes also signing with GCU. A week earlier, guard Carlos Johnson agreed to transfer to GCU from Washington.

"The biggest thing was the competitive environment," Drechsel said of choosing GCU. "I could feel the fire in Coach (Dan) Majerle when he talked. I want to play for a coach who matches my personality. I'm a crazy-competitive kid and I could just tell that was the vibe of the open gyms and stuff (at GCU). People want to win super-bad and that's who I am. I want to win super-bad."

Drechsel chose GCU over finalists Cal Baptist, Liberty, Santa Clara and Winthrop.

In his first season of playing point guard, Drechsel averaged 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field and 85 percent on free throws in 2017-18. He improved his 3-point shooting from 26 percent as a sophomore to 32 percent as a junior for a 21-8 team.

"I really like his size," Majerle said of the 6-foot-6, 205-pound Woodinville, Wash., native. "Everybody who I've talked to has said he's a really good player who is ultra-competitive and tough-nosed."

Drechsel's recruiting in high school was hindered when he fractured his pelvis during the critical club season before his senior year at Cedar Park Christian High School. He redshirted his freshman season at Western Washington, where he grew 2 ½ inches and added 30 pounds.

"It's definitely a crazy rise," Drechsel said of his journey from Washington 1A preps to Division I. "To be honest, I'm a very confident kid. I always thought I was a bigtime Division I player. God had a plan for me. Everyone's story is different. I just knew there'd be a silver lining at the end."

In his first season as a point guard, Drechsel learned how his size is an advantage to see over defenses, especially in making the first reads off pick-and-rolls. He was drawn to how the Lopes coaching staff will further enhance his understanding of playmaker nuances.

Drechsel connected with Lopes assistant coach T.J. Benson during recruiting and had a helpful conversation with outgoing point guard Casey Benson about making a similar transfer for one GCU season.

"I'm not your stereotypical point guard because I'm not some quick, little point guard that's going to fly by everyone," Drechsel said. "I have a really high motor. I led my team in rebounding, assists, steals, second in scoring. I'm like a do-it-all guard. I think I can post up little guards and I can blow by bigger guys when they try to put them on me. I'm a versatile player. The most important thing is I'm a team-first guy. I'm going to make sure this team wins a lot of games.

"I really want to do something special and help them get to their first NCAA tournament. I think that's a very doable thing. That prospect fired me up. I feel like the whole campus is ready for that moment."

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Casey Benson

Damari Milstead

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