Bryce DrewHe feared his contribution to one of CNN/SI's "five most memorable athletic feats of 1998" was going to fall short. That memorable feat was when Bryce, playing for the 14th seeded Valparaiso, took a court-length pass from teammate Jamie Sykes and hit a leaning 3-pointer as time expired to give Valparaiso a 70-69 upset of fourth-seeded Mississippi in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament in Oklahoma City. Bryce went on to give an encore performance by scoring 22 points in a second-round overtime victory over Florida State and put his Cinderella squad in the Sweet Sixteen. He finished his career as Valparaiso's leading scorer, two-time Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year, ranked third all-time in scoring in Mid-Continent Conference history and happy that he got to play for his dad, Homer, the coach of Valparaiso University.

Seven years prior to that day, heart specialists diagnosed Bryce with tachycardia, a condition which then required three surgeries at an Indianapolis hospital to correct. The last surgery occurred before his senior year at Valparaiso High School.

The Houston Rockets selected Bryce Drew as the 16th overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft.

While in college, Bryce's community activities included after-school tutoring, elementary school volunteer reader, Cancer fund raiser, City Park and Hilltop Home project volunteer, and visiting with special needs students. Since college, he has created the Bryce Drew Foundation, involved in promoting youth life education and development and supporting heart research. Bryce is also actively involved in the Gary, Indiana Runnin' Rebel Youth Program as a tutor and cadet. He is a Heart Walk fund raising participant and research spokesperson. He is a frequent Fellowship of Christian Athletes speaker, and Athletes in Action Contributor, P.A.T.H. (Positive Approach to Teen Health which promotes abstinence) spokesperson, a D.A.R.E. speaker, and a guest speaker at many youth groups and basketball clinics.

A few career highlights:

  • Sixth in NCAA Division I with 364 three-pointers
  • Valparaiso School records for points (2,142), assists (626), steals (186), three-pointers made (364) and field goals (696)
  • Three-time Mid-Continent Tournament MVP
  • All-Mid-Continent First Team member, and Conference leader in steals and three-pointers