Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

RIDDER REFLECTS: “Drew is an outstanding leader who has great communication skills and is a very heady, unselfish player with excellent intelligence.  He is fundamentally sound, he can see the floor and surprisingly for a 6-9 guy he can knock down the three and that’s really spreads the defense when he can knock those down.”

2005-06: Solid big man who appeared in all 34 games off the bench...netted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds against Florida College on Nov. 8...added 13 points and eight boards against Trinity (Fla.) on Nov. 26...Helped the Eagles finished fifth in the nation in blocked shots per game (5.21) by averaging 1.59 per contest and finished 22nd in the national individually...Even more impressive for Whitaker, is the fact that he averages just under 16 mintues a game and recorded two or more blocks in 16 contests including a career-high seven against Siena Heights (Mich.) on Dec. 3....He added two other five-block performances at Florida College (Jan. 10) and Florida Memorial (Feb. 1)...Whitaker ranks fifth on the Eagle career block leader list with 83 in two seasons...led team in blocks (51) and block average (1.5)...finished third on the squad in field goal percentage (.530) and rebounds per game (5.0).

2004-05:  Saw action in all 34 games with 13 starts after sitting out the second half of the 2003-04 season after transferring from NCAA Division I Colgate...averaged 16 minutes posting 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest...recorded a career-high 13 points vs. Lyndon State on Nov. 5...finished second on the team with 29 blocks and recorded a career-high five against Castleton State (Vt.) on Jan. 3...hauled down 11 boards on Jan. 26 against Flagler...scored in all but five of his 34 appearances...despite his size adds three-point shooting ability to his offensive arsenal connecting on 14-of-52 attempts.

Prior to Embry-Riddle: Whitaker came to Embry-Riddle after one season with Colgate appearing in just one game for five minutes his freshman year.  

High School: Whitaker guided Lake Highland Prep School to the District 10 “AA” Championship and the finals of the Class “AA” regionals...averaged 13 ppg earning honorable mention  Class “AA” All-State honors...also hauled down 11.0 rebounds per contest and made 102 3-point field goal  attempts...LHP won 44 games in his final two seasons.

Personal: Majoring in Business...born Sept. 14, 1984 in Jackson, Mich...son of Kathleen Whitaker.

Reason You Chose to Attend Embry-Riddle: “To have an opportunity to play a high level of basketball at a great academic institution.”