Bearden forward Pember commits to UT basketball
Drew Pember had a vision for the summer.
The Bearden rising senior forward saw his recruitment gain steam through an important spring. So he outlined a plan to play basketball through the summer, see which schools came into the picture and make a commitment at the end of July.
But a Monday stop at Tennessee halted his plans and his recruitment. Pember watched the Vols practice, work out and train. He spent time with coach Rick Barnes and assistant coach Rob Lanier.
“They made it seem like home really,” Pember said. “To me, it just felt like the place that I needed to be. I needed to be there regardless of when I committed or anything. I just needed to be there. They are going to be a really, really good program next year and one of the top teams in the SEC. They have everything going for them and have done an incredible job in their program.
“That’s something I want to be part of.”
So Pember called it. He announced Friday he would attend Tennessee, committing to the local program and giving the Vols their second commitment in the 2019 class.
“Growing up as a kid, you think everybody wants to play for their hometown,” Pember said. “That is something that is becoming a reality now for me. I’m blessed for everything that has happened.”
A year ago, Pember’s recruitment looked nothing like it does now. He didn’t play on a major AAU circuit last summer, but former Vols point guard Bobby Maze stayed on him to come and play with his team.
The 6-foot-9, 190-pound forward jumped onboard, playing on the Under Armour circuit this spring and seeing schools like Tennessee, Michigan, Maryland, Georgia and Georgia Tech showing heavy interest. He landed offers from Davidson, Mercer and Florida Atlantic among others.
The Vols offered in late April, a moment Pember called “surreal.” But still he planned on letting his recruitment develop through the summer before making a final decision.
Then Monday’s visit changed his plans and he spent the past few days talking with family about the choice.
“They just kept asking if I really wanted to do it and if it was something heavy on my heart and it was,” Pember said. “I’ve been praying about it and God has blessed me with so much and the chance to commit and be a Volunteer. There’s people now that will be able to come watch me that have watched me ever since I was in church league when I was 5. It’s going to be great.”
Pember, who joins three-star forward Davonte Gaines as 2019 commitments, is unranked in the 247Sports Composite. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 179 player in the class.
He said his biggest area of improvement must come in the weight room, as he seeks to get stronger to complement the rest of his game.
“That’s going to be my biggest focus for the next couple years — just trying to get stronger and gain weight,” said Pember, who averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocks last season. “I can shoot the ball pretty well and I like to stretch the floor. I have a high basketball IQ. I like to get other players involved. Just things like that. Being a team player and making sure everyone’s gets there. We just end up winning. That’s all I care about.”
That’s Pember’s plan at Tennessee as well. He wants to come and win a championship during his time as a Vol.
When that begins isn’t certain at this time. The Vols pitched the possibility of a year in prep school and reclassifying to the 2020 class when they offered Pember, who said the details are being worked out.
But he’s all in on Tennessee with a new vision for the summer.
“Now, I’ll get to go represent Tennessee when I play in July,” Pember said. “Hopefully, I can represent them well enough to make sure everybody knows they are going to be a really, really good program for the next few years.”