Northern Star: Drew Blair
Holds UMD's all-time scoring record
DULUTH, Minn.- 5 seasons, 141 games, and 4,719 minutes. Entering the NCAA Division II Tournament, that’s how long Drew Blair has played in a UMD uniform.
“Hopefully, I still have a little bit more left in the tank here as we go on the stretch and can keep playing better,” says Blair, who recently turned 24 years old.
After proving to be one of the best players in Division II basketball, Blair could have transferred to a Division I program. However, Blaire’s plan all along was to stay in Duluth.
“I didn’t really want to play anywhere else,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to play for anybody else. So, when I looked at it, I was like, I’m happy here. I’m in a great situation. I get to play for conference championships and national championships at a place where I can leave a pretty cool legacy. So, at the end of the day, I love playing here. I really didn’t want to go anywhere else.”
Blair will finish his college career with numerous UMD records, including the all-time scoring record. Nevertheless, his teammates will remember him for the moments that can’t be calculated into numbers.
“A lot of times people see it as maybe see sometimes leading scorers as selfish, but I think that’s the complete opposite of Drew,” says Senior Josh Brown. “I think everything he goes out there he does for a reason, and I know that his main goal is to win.”
Though Blair’s not sure what his next chapter will look like, there’s two things he won’t ever drop from his life: his love for basketball, and his commitment to the place he now calls home.
“I want to be remembered as a guy who loves supporting other student athletes,” said Blair. “One of my favorite things — and I’ve said this before — I literally love being a Bulldog fan just as much as I love putting on the jersey and having other people watch me. I love going to other games and being able to show up and show out for them.”
Even though his eligibility will run out at the end of the season, Bulldogs fans have not seen the last of Drew Blair on campus. “Whether I’m here or not, in some capacity, I’ll definitely be a familiar face and bleed maroon and gold as I always have. So, I’ll be around for sure.”
UMD and Fort Hays State will tip off in the NCAA Central Regional Quarterfinals on Saturday at noon at the Taylor Center in Mankato.
