Brunswick point guard Trey Drexler headed to IU-Indianapolis

Brunswick senior point guard Trey Drexler learned how crazy the college basketball recruiting process can be, but he ended up finding what he feels is the right place for him. A three-time All-Gazette choice and 2025 Gazette MVP with another high school season to play, the 6-foot, 160-pound Drexler will continue his playing career at Division I Indiana University Indianapolis, which is more commonly referred to as IU Indy. "Nothing is guaranteed," the 18-year-old said. "You just really take your opportunity when you get it. That's what I did. Right after I got the offer at IU Indy, I took it. "It's a big pressure reliever. I'm not stressing about it anymore. It just feels good to be done with the recruiting process." The left-handed Drexler received offers from Akron and Kent State early in his high school career, but neither came to fruition. He said he called Kent State to commit in June but was told to wait until after his official visit. As it turned out, another player committed prior to that and he said the offer was withdrawn. Akron, he said, simply stopped talking to him as his high school career progressed. Then along came IU Indy, which competes in the Horizon League with schools like Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Wright State and Robert Morris. The Jaguars went 10-22 overall and 6-14 in league play in 2024-25, but they have a new coach in Ben Howlett and a drastically revamped roster. Howlett spent the last eight seasons as coach at West Liberty University in West Virginia, where he compiled a 217-37 (.854) record. All eight of his teams qualified for the D-II NCAA Tournament, with the 2023 squad reaching the championship game. "Coach Howlett and all the other coaches made me feel wanted," said Drexler, who plans to major in business management. "They gave me everything straight up and they didn't promise anything, which I liked. You have to earn your spot every single year." IU Indy was previously part of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), which in July 2024 split into two schools: IU Indy and Purdue University in Indianapolis. "(IU Indy) is right in the downtown area, but it's its own little place," Drexler said. "It's really nice." An Ohio Mr. Basketball finalist, first-team D-I All-Ohio pick and Northeast Inland District D-I Player of the Year as a junior, Drexler and classmate Sean Barnett last season led the Blue Devils to a 19-5 record and the program's first Greater Cleveland Conference title since 2015-16. Drexler, who averaged 20.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting .433 from the field, .352 on 3-pointers and .824 at the foul line in 2024-25, has scored 1,225 career points, putting him within striking distance of the Medina County-record 1,842 scored by Highland's Rob Wininger from 1989-93. If Drexler plays in 25 games in 2025-26, he would need to average 24.7 points to break the mark. If he plays in 26, which would mean every game of the regular season and reaching the regional finals, he would need to average 23.74. "I've thought about it, but to be honest my main focus is the team," he said. "If they need me to score, that's what I'll do. If they need me to get other guys shots, that's what I'll do. Whatever it takes to win. I'm not going to be forcing the issue." Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on X.