Drumgoole turns sole focus to hoops as recruitment amps up
RANKINGS: 2019 Rivals150 | 2020 Rivals150 | 2019 Team Rankings
WHEELING, W.Va. – Gerald Drumgoole was a dual-sport athlete throughout his prep career, but all of the attention is on the hardwood as he completes high school career. One of the top wings available this winter, the Rivals150 senior discussed his decision to focus solely on basketball, his move to La Lumiere, Ind., and his ongoing recruitment.
“I knew that I was going play basketball in college. It was no doubt, and football was really fun for me and I miss it a lot, but I am more of a basketball player,” Drumgoole said. “Coming to La Lumiere from Rochester, it has been a major part of my success, and we get to play against most of the top-ranked teams, so it has really helped me develop my game for the next level.”
Georgetown, Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Pitt, Seton Hall and South Carolina are among the programs showing major interest, he told Rivals.com.
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IN HIS OWN WORDS
Illinois: “I think that it is a great program. They keep in good contact with me, and they just want for me to end up there. They haven’t offered me yet, but they want me to come on a visit.”
Minnesota: “I could come in my first year and make a great impact and be a good player for them. I could have a great role on the team and I feel like it would be a great opportunity, really.”
Northwestern: “They are telling me that they want for me to come in and be a role player on their team and maybe join them one day. It is a great academic school, and it would be a tough challenge if I were to go there with academics and basketball and being in the Big Ten. But it would be big time.”
Pitt: “They are just telling me to be a Panther. It is a great program and it is improving within the ACC, and there is a lot of great opportunities over there.”
South Carolina: “It was lovely there. I really bonded a lot with the team and the players and they really embraced me like I was a part of their family. I really enjoyed the visit.”
WHAT’S NEXT & RIVALS’ REACTION
Drumgoole has already used two of his official visits on Minnesota and South Carolina, though he plans on using the allotted five before making a decision.
“I am just weighing out all of my options right now, and I am going to take all five visits before I make my decision,” he said. “I am going to take an official visit to Pitt soon. I don’t have a date set right now.”
A 6-foot-5 small forward that can slide up or down a position depending on the lineups on the floor, Drumgoole brings plenty of toughness and versatility to the perimeter. A late bloomer of sorts, Drumgoole was awesome in Wheeling, giving a major hand in his team’s win over Montverde Academy by finishing with game-high honors of 21 points, thanks to his five made 3-pointers.
Expect a spring commitment and signing, and Pitt seems to be the program with the greatest momentum of late.