April 22nd marked a sad day for the Drexel Dragons, as men’s basketball point guard Jason Drake transferred to the University of Indiana. Drake, known as “Deuce” to fans among his three past homes, joins a uniquely built Hoosiers team, where he and new head coach Darian DeVries will look to bring Bloomington a national championship.
For Jason Drake, there was not always a historic power-five school calling with a lucrative NIL package. Although Drake was ranked the fourth best guard in the state of Michigan by 24/7 Sports out of high school, the floor general committed to Cleveland State, a mid-major program residing in the Horizon League. After a freshman season where Deuce saw limited minutes, he, like a growing number, entered his name in the transfer portal, with his future destination being outside Division I.
The Butler Grizzlies, a junior college program in the KJCCC, would be the sophomore’s next home, where a larger role in the offense would lead to seriously improved results. Drake averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, while shooting 42 percent from the three-point line for the Grizzlies. Drake thrived in an offensive driver role, showcasing his ability for big scoring and strong facilitating. Following the season, the guard entered his name in the transfer portal once again, eventually committing to Drexel last spring.
Drake was an exciting prospect, and was poised to battle it out with incoming transfer Kevon Vanderhorst for the starting point guard position. However, an unfortunate injury for Vanderhorst in the preseason saw Drake leading the charge with the starting unit in the season opener. Drake would register only six points on zero made field goals in that game, with all his points coming from the free throw line, but would add six assists and seven rebounds to go with that. A fairly promising start from the JUCO transfer.
However, the D1 game is very different from what he was used to playing at Butler Community College. It’s a more physical and demanding game, and it took some time for Drake to get used to this. Efficiency was a big issue early on for Drake. Shooting 49 percent from the field and 29 percent from three. While 49 percent from the field is still good, that number is heavily inflated by some low shooting attempt games. Drake shot about 45 percent in games when taking less than or equal to eight shots, and about 40.5 percent in games when taking more than eight shots. In about one-third of games, Deuce took more shots than points scored – highlighting his struggles early.
Drake really picked it up in the second half of the season, with his efficiency changing dramatically. He averaged 11.6 ppg on 44 percent from the field, and 38 percent from three. He had three of his four 20+ point games here as well. In regards to his efficiency, Drake shot the ball pretty well, registering a field goal percentage when taking fewer than eight shots of 47 percent, and a field goal percentage when taking more than eight shots of 46 percent. Now he shot the ball about the same as he did in the first half, with 30 percent of his games shooting more field goals than points, but his efficiency in most games improved dramatically. Drake’s best game came in the second round of the CAA championship – where Drexel took on Elon. In an astounding 91-74 point win, Drake poured in 25 points with three rebounds and four assists, shooting a blistering 61.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from three. Unfortunately, Drake entered the transfer portal on April 15, 2025, marking an end to his time at Drexel.
It was obvious Drake got more comfortable with his shot as the season went on, and became an even better playmaker and defender. His ability to score at any level, matched with his facilitating and pick-and-roll skills will help him as he starts his career as a Hoosier.
Transferring schools up to four times has become more common, but Drake’s journey is one that truly embodies the spirit of the current college basketball landscape. When he saw limited minutes for Cleveland State, he transferred to a school where he knew his abilities could shine. Jason Drake has developed from a junior college guard in rural Kansas, to one of the most versatile guards in the CAA, to a legitimate power-five prospect, all in under two years.