“You have parents shouting from the stands, ‘Don’t put him in’” - Andre Drummond was so bad at basketball that people begged to bench him

Through his dominant low-post scoring and rebounding skills, Andre Drummond had the best collegiate basketball teams vying for him to get on board. Moreover, being one of the most reliable back-to-the-basket traditional big men in the NBA, ‘Big Cat’ has made his presence felt in each of the six NBA teams he has featured on so far. However, there was a time when the 6’11” center failed to create the most minimal of impacts on the hardwood. During this phase, even the parents of his teammates begged the coach to keep Drummond on the bench, fearing his presence would negatively affect the game.

Drummond’s early basketball struggles

Basketball took its time to gradually grow on Drummond. In his elementary school team, the future two-time All-Star was so uncoordinated with his movement and position that he had only a negative impact on his team’s performance. Moreover, his effect was so detrimental that the parents of his teammates begged the coach to not send Dre, who was too weak to make any meaningful impact, on the hardwood to spoil the game for their kids.

"His love was basketball. But he just wasn’t very good at it yet," Christine Cameron, (Drummond’s mother) recalled . "You'd brush against him, and he'd fall over on the floor. I used to joke that the ball would be going to one end, and he’d be going to the other end. When he would go on the court, you have parents shouting from the stands, ‘Don’t put him in! Don’t put him in the game!"

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Andre made a giant leap

Despite his immense childhood struggles, Andre worked diligently on his skills. Ultimately, by the time he represented the Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, he was averaging 12.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 blocks per game in his freshman year. Then, he showed improvement during his sophomore year by improving his stats in each area - 20.2 points, 16.6 rebounds, and 7.2 blocks per game. After two years at Capital Prep, Drummond transferred to St. Thomas More in Oakdale, where he reclassified and repeated his sophomore year while recovering from a foot stress fracture.

After leading St. Thomas to a national prep championship in 2011, every major program in the country pursued Andre as he entered the collegiate scene. Put simply, he became the No. 2 recruit in the nation behind Anthony Davis, receiving offers from Kentucky, Georgetown, and Connecticut, among others.

That being said, Andre’s journey exemplifies how one can overcome a lack of natural talent through hard work and determination to be counted among the best. His transformation from being unwanted on the court to having the top collegiate teams vying for his commitment remains a testament to how late bloomers can also make it big.

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