UI Athletics news release
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Guard Drew Thelwell signed a scholarship tender with the University of Iowa men’s basketball team for the 2024-25 season, it was announced Wednesday by head coach Fran McCaffery. Thelwell has one year of eligibility remaining after playing four seasons at Morehead State University.
During his Eagles’ career, Thelwell averaged 7.1 points, 3.0 assists and 0.8 steals in 114 career games. He scored 810 career points and had 339 assists, shooting 43 percent from the floor and 34.8 from 3-point range. He will graduate in May with a degree in sports management.
Thelwell concluded his Morehead State career with 91 career victories – the most in program history. He helped the Eagles to two Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) regular season titles and two postseason appearances – one NIT and one NCAA Tournament.
“We are excited to welcome Drew to the Hawkeye family,” said McCaffery. “Drew has a complete skill set with exceptional passing abilities and most importantly, he’s a winner. He will be a tremendous fit for our program.”
The Orlando, Florida, native started all 68 games during his junior and senior seasons. He averaged a career-best 11.1 points and 2.8 assists as a junior, shooting 46.3 percent (133-of-287) from the floor and 38.1 percent (51-of-134) from 3-point range. The Eagles won 22 games, claimed the OVC regular season title and advanced to the NIT.
As a senior, Thelwell averaged 10 points, 6.2 assists and 1.3 steals for a team that went 26-9, shared the OVC regular season title and won the OVC Tournament to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Thelwell led the OVC and ranked 15th nationally in assists (211) and was tops in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.71), ranking 36th nationally.
“I was looking for the right fit and with the Iowa coaches and overall program, I found it,” said Thelwell. “I wanted to find a family and a home away from home and I believe the University of Iowa is the perfect fit.
“I am a player that likes to push the ball; Iowa’s system does that and allows you to play free. This is a dream come true for me. These are the opportunities you think about as a kid.”
Thelwell landed in double figures 13 times during his senior season with four 20-point contests. He had five or more assists in 23 games, seven or more assists in 15 games and 10+ assists in three contests, including a 19-assist game in a win over Alice Lloyd College.
For his career, Thelwell has reached double figures in 37 games with six 20-point contests. He has 29 career games with five or more assists.
As a prep, Thelwell eclipsed the 1,000-career point mark during his high school career at Orangewood Christian and Master’s Academy in Florida. He earned all-state honors by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association and was a second-team all-area selection by the Orlando Sentinel.
Thelwell averaged 23 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists during the 2018-19 season at Orangewood and 19 points, five rebounds and four assists at Master’s, while shooting 34 percent from 3-point range.
Thelwell will join an Iowa program that won 19 games and advanced to the NIT Second Round during the 2023-24 season.
