David Graham
July 23, 2020
Learando Drake
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth:
- Place of Birth:
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 206
- Weight (KG): #N/A
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Indiana State (1979-81)
- NBL DEBUT: 14/04/85
- AGE AT DEBUT: 0
- LAST NBL GAME: 18/08/85
- NBL History: Illawarra 1985
- Championships: 0
- None
NBL EXPERIENCE
Learando Drake made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks on 14/4/1985. He scored 19 points in his first game.
Despite reaching the playoffs for the first time in 1984, Illawarra entered 1985 in rebuild mode after rising local standout Tim Morrissey left for Canberra and both imports, Jerry Steurer and Marlon Redmond, were not re-signed. The Hawks moved on from coach Charlie Ammit and replaced him with Ted Weston, who brought in American high-scoring imports Greg May and Learando “Leonard” Drake, while local rookie forward Graham Kubank was added to fill Morrissey’s spot. Brett Flanigan returned to the Hawks after two seasons in Sydney, Gordie McLeod returned as captain, and naturalised veteran Jim Slacke, along with role players such as Michael Roodenrys and Ian Bartholomew, rounded out an overhauled rotation.
The season opened at Beaton Park in a 112–116 loss to the Sydney Supersonics, a free-flowing game that immediately showcased the new-look frontline. May (39 points, 17-of-21 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks) exploded in his NBL debut with McLeod (19 points, 15 assists, 3 steals) running the offence. Drake (19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) was also impressive on debut, but despite the trio’s production, Illawarra could not quite match Sydney’s firepower down the stretch.
Five days later the Hawks responded with their first win of the season, edging defending champions Brisbane 111–110 in a clutch finish that suggested Illawarra could again trouble top contenders. The frontcourt trio carried the load as May (36 points, 9 rebounds), Drake (27 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks), and Kubank (19 points, 5 rebounds) led the team offensively, with McLeod (2 points, 9 assists, 3 steals) again directing traffic in the backcourt.
Consistency, however, quickly became an issue. In Round 3 the Hawks were thumped on the road by Canberra 73–119, an early glimpse of the volatility that would define their season, with Drake (21 points, 11 rebounds) and May (19 points) battling in a heavy defeat. When the teams met again on 10 May, May (29 points, 12 rebounds) and Drake (20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals) fired back, and McLeod (12 points, 10 assists) produced a double-double, yet the Hawks still struggled to contain Canberra’s offence. By the end of April, Illawarra sat at 2–4 and had already shown they could look like a playoff team one night and a bottom-half side the next.
One of the early highlights came on 26 April in a narrow 96–100 home loss to Perth, a game that underlined both Illawarra’s potential and their inability to close out tight contests. McLeod (22 points, 14 assists) delivered his best offensive outing of the season, while Drake (40 points, 17-of-26 shooting, 16 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block) dominated inside and May (13 points, 9 rebounds) provided support. Even with that level of production from their stars, the Hawks could not convert a strong performance into a win against the Wildcats.
Across the middle portion of the year, Illawarra alternated between explosive offensive outings and heavy defeats. Those performances translated into some impressive mid-season highs. On 14 June the Hawks routed the Melbourne Tigers 109–86 at Beaton Park in one of their most complete efforts. Drake (35 points, 16-of-20 shooting, 14 rebounds) proved unstoppable alongside May (22 points) and Slacke (19 points, 7 rebounds), while McLeod (8 points, 11 assists) controlled the tempo.
Mid-July produced perhaps the most encouraging back-to-back sequence of the season. On 13 July Illawarra beat Sydney 125–106 on the road, with Drake (45 points, 19 rebounds) delivering a season-high performance and May (31 points, 8 rebounds) also enjoying a big scoring night as the Hawks’ core dismantled the Supersonics. Less than 24 hours later they backed it up with a 108–96 win over St Kilda at home. May (34 points, 10 rebounds) and Drake (22 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists) were again impressive, while McLeod (4 points, 8 assists) ensured the offence continued to flow through the import duo.
Their most dominant offensive outing came on 2 August in a 130–104 demolition of the Hobart Devils at Beaton Park, a night when the scoreboard reflected how potent their system could be. Slacke (42 points, 6 rebounds) produced his best game of the season, May (32 points, 6 rebounds) continued his high-volume scoring, Kubank (18 points, 5 rebounds) provided a strong third option, and McLeod (11 points, 17 assists) orchestrated everything. Drake sat out this contest, but Illawarra’s offensive rhythm carried on even in his absence as the Hawks put up 57 field goals at 61 percent from the floor.
These peaks were matched by severe lows. Illawarra suffered heavy defeats on the road, including a 79–141 loss to Brisbane on 22 June where Drake (26 points) and May (15 points, 8 rebounds) were kept relatively quiet given the margin, and McLeod (6 points, 7 assists) could not stem the Bullets’ scoring avalanche. A month later, on 20 July, they were on the wrong end of one of the most lopsided results in NBL history, falling 81–156 to the Adelaide 36ers. In that defeat May (30 points, 5 rebounds) still found ways to score, while Drake (12 points, 6 rebounds) and McLeod (2 points, 3 assists) struggled to impose themselves as Adelaide ran away with the game.
Illawarra pushed through the final month trying to stay alive in the playoff race. They claimed a tight 119–117 road win over Hobart on 17 August in a game dominated by their core, with Drake (34 points, 15 rebounds, 5 steals) again carrying the load inside, May (29 points, 7 rebounds) providing strong support, and McLeod (17 points, 15 assists) turning in one of his best all-round displays as the Hawks held on in a shootout that briefly kept their finals hopes alive. A day later, however, they were overrun 127–97 by Nunawading at Burwood Stadium. Drake (49 points, 12 rebounds, 6 blocks) produced a remarkable individual performance, May (24 points, 9 rebounds) added his usual scoring punch, and McLeod (4 points, 14 assists) continued to create, yet the Spectres’ balanced attack and 51 field goals were too much for Illawarra to match defensively.
During the season, May (27.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.1 blocks across 26 games) quickly established himself as the team’s primary scorer, while Drake (26.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.8 blocks across 24 games) patrolled the interior and routinely delivered double-double production. Slacke (19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 blocks across 26 games) added his usual reliable offence and size, and Kubank (10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists across 24 games) impressed in his rookie season, finishing runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award. McLeod (10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, a league-leading 10.2 assists, 2.8 steals across 26 games) put in a solid captain’s effort, leading the NBL in playmaking while still contributing double-figure scoring.
The Hawks split their last few fixtures and ultimately could not make up ground, finishing the season 10–16 and ninth on the NBL ladder. Both their home record (6–7) and road record (4–9) reflected the inconsistency that defined the campaign and marked a clear step back from their playoff appearance last season.
Learando Drake played one season in the NBL. He averaged 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 1 assists in 24 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 28th in points per game.
– 38th in rebounds per game.
– 32nd in blocks per game.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0 | Illawarra | 10-16 (9) | 24 | 0 | 623 | 270 | 25 | 89 | 181 | 34 | 42 | 93 | 74 | 260 | 509 | 51% | 1 | 7 | 14% | 102 | 164 | 62% | 53% | 51% | 49 | Totals | 24 | 0 | 623 | 270 | 25 | 89 | 181 | 34 | 42 | 93 | 74 | 260 | 509 | 51.1% | 1 | 7 | 14.3% | 102 | 164 | 62.2% | 54% | 51% | 49 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0 | Illawarra | 10-16 (9) | 24 | 0.0 | 26.0 | 11.3 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 10.8 | 21.2 | 51% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 14% | 4.3 | 6.8 | 62% | 53% | 51% | 49 | Total | 24 | 0.0 | 26.0 | 11.3 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 10.8 | 21.2 | 51.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.3% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 62.2% | 54% | 51% | 49 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 49 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
|---|
COLLEGE
Learando Drake played his NCAA basketball at Indiana State from 1979 to 1981, suiting up for the Sycamores in the Missouri Valley Conference under head coach Bill Hodges.
As a freshman in 1979-80, Drake was part of an Indiana State team that finished 16-11 overall and 8-8 in MVC play (5th place), scoring 68.4 points per game while allowing 64.7 per game.
In that 1979-80 season, Drake appeared in 20 games and did not start, averaging 1.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 11-for-24 from the field (45.8%) and 7-for-20 at the free-throw line (35.0%), with 56 total rebounds and 3 total assists across the year.
Indiana State’s 1979-80 team totals were 1,846 points across 27 games (68.4 per game) while allowing 1,746 points (64.7 per game), and as a team the Sycamores shot 717-for-1,576 from the field (45.5%) and 412-for-635 at the line (64.9%).
Drake returned as a sophomore in 1980-81 and played 24 games with 6 starts as Indiana State went 9-18 overall and 4-12 in MVC play (8th place), scoring 70.9 points per game and allowing 75.6 per game.
In that 1980-81 season, Drake averaged 4.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, shooting 33-for-74 from the field (44.6%) and 33-for-58 at the free-throw line (56.9%), totaling 99 points, 81 rebounds, and 7 assists on the year.
Indiana State’s 1980-81 team totals were 1,914 points across 27 games (70.9 per game) while allowing 2,042 points (75.6 per game), and as a team the Sycamores shot 753-for-1,656 from the field (45.5%) and 408-for-583 at the line (70.0%).
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