Greater Beckley All-Stater Drew Fitzwater Signs with Wheeling University

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Entering his senior year of high school, Drew Fitzwater faced a tough decision.

Stay at Woodrow Wilson where he had played basketball for three seasons, or transfer to Greater Beckley Christian School for his final year.

Fitzwater made the difficult decision to leave Woodrow Wilson, but the driving force had little to do with the hardwood.

The first-team all-stater made the move for spiritual reasons and in turn became a dominant force on the basketball court.

Thursday evening inside the Helton Family Center, his successful year as a Crusader paid the ultimate basketball dividend when he signed to play next season for Wheeling University.

While signing to play for the Cardinals was a long-shot at the beginning of the season, Fitzwater caught the attention of several schools by the time March rolled around.

During the regular season the GBC big man averaged a double-double, 15 points and 11 rebounds, while leading Greater Beckley to the WVCAT championship, scoring 21 points in the title game.

All of that paled in comparison to his performance on the Mountain State's biggest stage, the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, in the state basketball tournament.

In the quarterfinal win over St. Joseph Central, Fitzwater punished the Irish scoring 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

The Crusaders would bow out in the semifinals against eventual state champion Tug Valley, but Fitzwater was once again an unstoppable force inside.

Making all 11 of his attempts in the paint, the future Cardinal netted a game-high 26 points. He was also named to the All-Tournament team.

For his efforts all year, Fitzwater earned first-team all-state acknowledgement and was selected for two prestigious All-Star games - the Scott Brown/Little General Classic and the North-South All-Star Classic.

Fitzwater talked about his journey that now makes its next stop on the northern panhandle.