As a 6-foot-10 forward with tremendous lift off and extravagant, above the rim finishing ability, Southern California Academy’s Drew Fielder has rapidly risen out of obscurity.
St. John’s is one of several schools to discover Fielder during his recent emergence. St. John’s offered Fielder this past week, as the sneaky explosive prospect garnered a handful of high major offers.
Providence, USC, TCU, Loyola Marymount and several others have recently offered Fielder. The versatile Class of 2023 Fielder has been one of the top performers on the Under Armour circuit with West Coast Elite this summer.
He’s generated major buzz as a late bloomer recruit, a kid who has come virtually out of nowhere after a six month sabbatical from the game due to injury.
Fielder’s motor, high skill set, and boundless energy would give SJU an inside-outside caliber threat.
While St. John’s returns crucial interior cogs such as Stepinac HS product and Yonkers, NY native Joel Soriano as well as the vastly improved 6-foot-11 Esahia Nwiye (whose role will likely increase next season with extended minutes), Fielder would have the potential to be the rare multi-positional threat in the trenches.
As he’s shown on the AAU circuit this summer, Fielder is able to bulldoze defenders into the paint and score with physicality.
He’s also a floor spreader with range and the ability to put the ball on the floor and dish it in ways few his size can simulate.
Part of Mike Anderson and staff’s focus has been leaving no stone unturned and criss crossing the country to recruit the best available players.
Crossing state lines to see Fielder, who is from Idaho originally, is indicative of this.
Anderson faced scrutiny immediately after being hired in April of 2019. He had a fair share of critics within the hyper passionate fan base at the culmination of the 2021-22 season.
While St. John’s was inconsistent and at times appeared overly reliant on Julian Champagnie and Posh Alexander during an underwhelming 17-15 campaign in 2021-22, they’ve landed significant recruits in transfers Andre Curbelo (Illinois) and David Jones (DePaul).
Fielder holds additional offers from the likes of Maryland, Arizona State, Boise State, San Jose State, Hawaii, Weber State, San Diego, and others.
St. John’s has also been in persistent pursuit of another big at Southern California Academy in 7-foot-1 Class of 2023 prospect Isaiah Miranda.
A crude rim protector with broomstick long arms and the instinctive shot blocking, shot manipulating style to backbone a defense, Miranda is a mobile and agile big.
He’s evolved into a transcendent post player, with the versatility that enables him to pop out and stick the 3-point shot. With his length and dexterity, he’s progressed into a consistent catch and post and catch and dunk threat.
At Southern California Academy, Miranda will play under longtime program builder Chris Chaney. Chaney has molded myriad Big East players during his time in the prep ranks, including memorable St. John’s guard Dwight Hardy.
