2025-26 IU basketball player profile: Jason Drake

With the start of college basketball season approaching, we’ve transitioned from our look at other Big Ten programs to our player-by-player previews of the 2025-26 IU basketball roster.

Today, our player profiles continue with junior Jason Drake.

Previously: Andrej Acimovic, Trent Sisley, Aleksa Ristic, Josh Harris, Jasai Miles, Nick Dorn

Jason Drake grew up following the Big Ten in Michigan. A fan of the Wolverines as a kid, Drake dreamed of playing at the highest level of college hoops.

But as a class of 2022 recruit out of Ferndale High School near Detroit, the 6-foot-1 guard didn’t earn a Big Ten scholarship offer.

A two-time All-Michigan selection, Drake committed to Cleveland State and joined the Vikings for the 2022-23 season. Things didn’t go as Drake hoped as a freshman – he appeared in just 16 games off the bench and scored 25 points all season – and he transferred to Butler Community College for his second season of college hoops.

It was a move that put Drake’s career on the path to where he is today.

“Going JUCO, that was one of the best decisions I could have made,” Drake told Inside the Hall last spring. “It helped me prepare for college better and it was probably the most fun I had in college, too.”

In one season at Butler Community College, Drake thrived. He averaged 9.6 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and one steal per game while shooting 42.1 percent on 3s. His strong play put him back on the radar for Division I programs and he ultimately landed at Drexel ahead of the 2024-25 season.

For the Dragons, Drake made another leap and developed into a pivotal part of the Drexel program. In 33 games – all starts – he averaged 11.1 points, 3.1 assists and three rebounds per game while shooting 39.6 percent on 3s. He also shot 86.5 percent from the free-throw line.

“Drexel helped me get the confidence I once had in high school,” Drake said. “It gave me that confidence.”

Last spring, Drake entered the transfer portal and while it was three years later than he had initially hoped, the opportunity to play in the Big Ten finally arrived.

Following a visit to Bloomington in late April, Drake committed to the Hoosiers and will finally have his chance to play against the schools he grew up following.

“I just wanted to be on the highest stage,” Drake explained. “That was always a dream of mine, playing in the Big Ten. Growing up being a Michigan fan and now being able to play against them is kind of crazy to me. Playing Michigan State, Tom Izzo, stuff like that, it’s kind of crazy to me.”

The only question now is when he’ll be available to play for the Hoosiers.

Drake missed a good chunk of the summer after undergoing surgery for a toe injury. That surgery kept him home during the team’s three-game exhibition trip to Puerto Rico in early August.

In last month’s open practice in Bloomington, Drake remained sidelined and no timetable has been given for his return.

With limited ball-handling depth behind Tayton Conerway and Connor Enright, getting Drake back and healthy is a priority for the Hoosiers entering the season.

Bottom line: There’s no firm timeline for Drake’s return, but he was walking without a limp in late September at IU’s media day and open practice. While he didn’t participate in any basketball activities during practice, he did some warm-up stretches with his teammates. Drake, a combo guard who can play on or off the ball, could carve out a rotation role as a backup guard behind Conerway and Enright. Playing fast is one of his strengths and he’s a capable 3-point shooter, which fits well with IU’s new offensive scheme.

Quotable: “I’m a competitor. Everybody is going to see that. You can ask anybody that’s been around me and they’re going to say that I’m a competitor. I’m going to go against anybody and I’m fearless.” – Drake when asked what to expect from his game.

See More: Commentary, 2025-26 season preview, Jason Drake