Shiller Commits to WCC school

Drew Shiller, the 3-sport standout from Burlingame High (Calif.), has officially ended his recruiting. The 6-foot point guard on the hardwood has decided to take his game to the West Coast Conference (WCC) but will he play more than one sport? Rivals.com talked to the senior prodigy.

Shiller has given a verbal commitment to to coach Jesse Evans and the University of San Francisco. The verbal came after Shiller took an unofficial visit to USF last past weekend. Shiller said he decided to attend USF after looking at the opportunity to play and the high academic standards at the school.

"When I was there this past weekend, I felt a good feeling about the program," said Shiller. "I really like the coaching staff and I like the players. I feel that they are committed to winning and I think the coaching staff will do what it takes to get the program going strong."

It also didn’t hurt that Barry Shiller, Drew’s father, is an alumnus of USF, graduating in 1977 with a degree in Psychology.

For the past several years, Shiller has been a three-sport star at Burlingame High School. He is the starting quarterback on a 3-1 football team that is making a push for the playoffs. In baseball, he plays every position and some baseball scouts believe he could be a major league prospect. But it is on the basketball court that Shiller has made the biggest name for himself, as he has been a four year starter for the Burlingame Panthers.

Last season, Shiller averaged 20 points and five assists per game. He was named MVP of the Peninsula Athletic League’s (PAL) Southern Division and he helped to lead Burlingame to a co-championship of the PAL, and the Division III title game of the Central Coast Section. Shiller is a heady point guard with a wet jump shot, who plays basketball the way it should be played.

During the summer, Shiller helped lead the Oakland Soldiers to the quarterfinals of the Reebok Big Time tournament in Las Vegas, earning All Tournament honors.

Other schools that were recruiting Shiller included Pacific, Davis, Loyola Maramount, Yale, Cornell, Cal and Stanford.

The elder Shiller said he was pleased with Drew’s choice.

"Drew's mom and I are delighted that Drew will be at a university that offers strong academics, a great basketball tradition, and opportunities to develop community relationships that will last throughout his life," said Barry. "We just wanted him to be excited about his choice, and he clearly is."

According to the elder Shiller, USF's approach to recruiting his son and the campus upgrades also played a role in his son's decision.

"We were impressed that Coach Evans and his staff consistently let Drew know he was a high priority without putting undue pressure on him. USF has really enhanced its physical campus, and it's close enough for Drew's family and friends to follow him for the next four years."

While basketball has become Shiller's focus for the future, he said he would continue his promising baseball career at USF, once the basketball season is over.

"[The USF coaching staff] understood that he wants to pursue baseball as a second sport, and totally supported that," said the elder Shiller.