DREW COFFMAN SIGNS NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT WITH TEXAS TECH
November 13, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2002
Lubbock, Texas -
Texas Tech University announces the signing of Drew Coffman, senior guard at Midland Lee High School in Midland, Texas to a National Letter of Intent.
Coffman, who led the Rebels to the Class 5A state tournament and an undefeated district season last year, announced last spring that he wanted to attend Tech and play for legendary coach Bob Knight. The Midland Reporter-Telegram noted the 6-foot-2 guard might be the highest profile West Texas recruit in the Tech tenure of Bob Knight, in only his second year at the university.
Coffman joins a team that senior writer Dan Wetzel of Sportsline.com recently described as, "everything about this program is on the upswing. On-court success, recruiting, fundraising, fan support, media attention, you name it, the Bob Knight experiment on the South Plains has been an unqualified success. And the General isn't finished yet."
Last season the Red Raiders became the turn-around program of the country according to STATS, Inc, posting a 23-9 record and an NCAA Tournament berth after the a 9-19 campaign in the season prior to Coach Knight's arrival. The Raiders won their inaugural tournament, the FORD Red Raider Classic and drew national attention for their solid efforts on the court. At the end of the season Andre Emmett and Andy Ellis earned post-season honors and Basketball Times tabbed Bob Knight as Coach of the Year.
Inking his commitment on the first day of the early signing period, Drew has wanted to play for Coach Knight ever since he was 9 years old and spent a week at the coach's camp in Indiana. "I watched him at camp and saw how great a coach he was. Then I realized that he was a great coach and a great person."
Drew had a career-high of 42 points against San Angelo Central last season. He also grabbed 14 rebounds in a game and had a career-high 14 assists in another. Drew's father and coach at Midland Lee calls his senior guard, "as fierce a competitor as anybody. Drew's style is a perfect fit for Coach Knight's system."
Coach Bob Knight commented that Drew "is the kind of player we want at Texas Tech and we're really looking forward to him being part of the program."