Over the years, a lot of people have asked me questions about my basketball career, my time at WVU, playing professionally overseas, writing books, and what I’m doing now with DrewSchifino.com.
Recently, my friend Blose sat down with me for one of the most honest and in-depth conversations I’ve had about my life and career. We talked about everything from growing up as a multi-sport athlete, the recruiting process, and life at WVU to playing overseas, missing the NBA, adjusting to life after basketball, and building a media platform after sports.
I also share some of my biggest regrets, lessons I’ve learned, funny stories from my playing days, and my thoughts on where basketball is headed today.
If you’ve ever wondered what I would do differently, what I learned from the highs and lows of my journey, or what’s next for me, this Q&A answers it all.
Q: What age did you start playing basketball, and did you play any other sports?
A: I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old, but basketball wasn’t the only sport I played. My father believed in developing a complete athlete, so growing up I boxed, played baseball, ran track, wrestled, and played football. Looking back, I think competing in multiple sports helped me become a better basketball player. Wrestling taught toughness, boxing taught discipline, football taught physicality, and track helped with speed and conditioning. Once I got to high school and started receiving national attention as a basketball player, I made the decision to focus solely on basketball. At that point, I felt like I had a chance to play at the highest levels, so all of my energy went into developing my game and chasing that dream.
Q: Did you have any other interests you wanted to pursue as a child?
A: Yes. Growing up, I was always fascinated by crime, investigations, and forensic science. My mother and I used to watch America’s Most Wanted and Unsolved Mysteries together, and I was drawn to how investigators gathered evidence and tried to piece together what happened. Had basketball not become such a major part of my life, I could have seen myself pursuing something in criminal justice, forensics, or investigative work. That interest never completely left me, and it still influences some of the stories and topics I enjoy writing about today.
Q: At what age did you start taking basketball seriously and realize it could be more than just a high school sport?
A: Honestly, I realized it very early. In my first organized game at 5 years old, I scored over 30 points. I was usually ahead of kids my age, and as I got older, it became clear that basketball was different for me.
Q: What were your top three college recruitment offers, and if you could have chosen any schools, what would your top three have been?
A: My top three recruiting choices came down to West Virginia, Pitt, and Maryland. All three were great programs, but West Virginia felt like the best fit for me at the time. Growing up, though, my dream schools were Syracuse, UConn, and Pitt—in that order. Syracuse was always my favorite because of the tradition, the Big East battles, and the players they produced. UConn was another program I loved watching, and being a Pittsburgh kid, Pitt was naturally high on my list as well.
Q: What was the wildest story from one of your college visits?
A: Honestly, my college visits weren’t that wild. I have plenty of crazy college stories, but they mostly happened after I got to school. On my official visit to WVU, I pretty much just partied all night and had a great time. Nothing too crazy happened, but it definitely showed me how passionate the students and atmosphere were in Morgantown.
Q: Looking back now, where do you think you should have gone to college, and why?
A: Looking back, I probably should have gone to Maryland. They won the national championship during my freshman year, but more importantly, I felt like Coach Gary Williams genuinely cared about his players as people, not just as athletes. At this stage of my life, I’ve realized how important those relationships are. Looking back, I don’t think my coaches at WVU truly cared about me or many of my teammates beyond basketball, and that makes a difference when you’re a young player trying to navigate college and life.
Q: Do you think you took college practices seriously enough? If not, why?
A: Yes, I took practices seriously. I was one of the hardest workers when it came to practice and competing with my teammates. The crazy part is that outside of practice, especially in the offseason, I barely played basketball. I didn’t love the game the way some players do—I was just naturally talented. I could take two months off and still come back and be the best player on the floor. Looking back, that’s one of my biggest regrets. I wish I had taken basketball more seriously when nobody was watching because I realize now how much better I could have been.
Q: I’ve seen small-town fame and high school stardom sometimes hinder kids’ development in other areas of life. What, if anything, do you think parents can do to lessen those effects on their children?
A: I think parents have to make sure their kids understand that being a great athlete is something they do, not who they are. Small-town fame can make a young person believe the attention will last forever, but sports eventually end for everybody. Parents need to keep their kids grounded, hold them accountable, make sure they’re focused on academics, and teach them how to treat people. The same people cheering for you on Friday night might not be around 10 years later. That’s why character, education, and life skills matter just as much as points, touchdowns, or trophies. The athletes who handle success the best are usually the ones who were taught humility and balance at home.
Q: What do you think stopped you from making the NBA? And do you think you could play in today’s NBA?
A: I think the biggest thing that kept me from the NBA was what happened at WVU. My dismissal hurt my reputation at a time when character concerns carried a lot of weight with NBA organizations. Back then, there was no social media for players to tell their side of the story, so once a narrative was out there, it was hard to change it. As for today’s NBA, I absolutely think I could play in it. The game is much more spread out, which benefits scorers. When I played, the lane was crowded and physical. Today’s game is faster, with more space to operate, and I’ve always been at my best in an up-tempo system where I could attack, create, and score in transition.
Q: What was your favorite city or country to play in overseas, and why?
A: My favorite place to play overseas was Prague, Czech Republic. It was a beautiful city, laid back, and the people treated me great. One thing people don’t realize is how homesick you can get being away from the United States for that long, especially back then when technology wasn’t what it is today. I was fortunate to meet some great people who helped make Prague feel like home. And honestly, the nightlife was amazing. Between the city, the people, and the overall experience, Prague was my favorite stop during my overseas career.
Q: Which place—college or overseas—had the best groupie stories?
A: WVU, and it’s not even close. When you’re a college athlete in Morgantown, they treat you like a king. The fans love you, everybody knows who you are, and there’s a lot of attention that comes with it. People assume overseas would be crazier, but for me it didn’t even compare to Morgantown. WVU definitely has the best stories from that standpoint.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self, both in life and in basketball?
A: I would tell my younger self to enjoy the journey more and stop worrying so much about proving people wrong. In basketball, I’d say work even harder on the little things—conditioning, discipline, and consistency—because talent alone will only take you so far. In life, I’d tell myself that the people cheering for you today won’t always be there tomorrow, so build relationships, get an education, save your money, and prepare for life after the game. Basketball eventually ends for everybody, but the decisions you make as a young man stay with you forever.
Q: What is your biggest regret?
A: My biggest regret is probably not appreciating how fast it all goes. When you’re a star athlete, you think the game, the attention, and the opportunities will always be there. I wish I had been more patient, made a few better decisions, and understood that talent alone isn’t enough. At the same time, I don’t live in regret because every mistake taught me something. The highs and lows helped shape who I am today—a father, author, mentor, and someone who can hopefully help the next generation avoid some of the mistakes I made.
Q: Was there a point in your career when basketball stopped being fun and you felt burned out?
A: There came a point where basketball stopped being just a game and started feeling like a job. When you’re young, you play because you love it. As you get older, there are expectations, pressure, politics, injuries, coaching changes, and real-life responsibilities that can take some of the joy away. For me, some of that happened during my college years and later in my professional career overseas. There were times when I felt frustrated by decisions I had made, opportunities I lost, and the business side of basketball. I think a lot of athletes go through that, even if they don’t talk about it. What I eventually realized is that I didn’t actually fall out of love with basketball—I fell out of love with everything surrounding it. The game itself was still something I loved. Looking back, those difficult moments taught me resilience and helped prepare me for life after sports. They also became a big reason why I wrote Buckets & Battles in the first place.
Q: How difficult was it to adjust to life after being a star player? And how difficult was it to adjust to life after basketball in general?
A: It was very difficult, and I think it’s something most former athletes struggle with whether they admit it or not. When you’re a star player, your identity is tied to basketball. People know your name, they come to watch you play, and a lot of your daily routine revolves around the game. Then one day it’s over, and the world keeps moving. Nobody prepares you for that transition. For me, the adjustment wasn’t just about no longer playing. It was about figuring out who I was without basketball. There were times when I missed the competition, the locker room, the crowd, and the sense of purpose that came with being an athlete. What helped me was realizing that basketball was a chapter of my life, not the entire book. Coaching, mentoring, writing books, building my platform, and helping others gave me a new purpose. The lessons basketball taught me—discipline, perseverance, accountability, and resilience—still serve me every day. I still love the game, but I’ve learned that my value isn’t based on how many points I scored or what level I played at. My greatest impact now comes from the people I can help and the stories I can tell.
Q: Would you live in any of the countries where you played overseas?
A: Yes, there are several countries where I played that I could see myself living in permanently. Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Germany, and the Czech Republic were all great places with good people, quality lifestyles, and environments I enjoyed. If I had to choose one place I wouldn’t move back to, it would be Poland. Nothing against the country, but it just wasn’t a place where I could see myself living long-term. Overall, playing overseas gave me a chance to experience different cultures, and it made me realize there are a lot of great places to live outside the United States.
Q: Do you think you could beat LeBron James one-on-one? And if so, at what stage of his career would you have had the best chance?
A: No, I couldn’t beat LeBron one-on-one. He’s too big, too strong, too skilled, and built like a tank. That’s a tough matchup for anybody. What’s funny is that when I was a freshman at WVU, I was considered one of the top young players around. My brother was playing football at the University of Akron at the time, and LeBron was still in high school. People around Akron were actually trying to get me up there to play LeBron one-on-one. Unfortunately, it never happened. Looking back, it’s a funny story because none of us knew at the time that he was about to become one of the greatest players in basketball history.
Q: Do you think basketball is headed in a good direction right now, or has money—through AAU and other influences—changed the game for the worse?
A: I think basketball is headed in the wrong direction in a lot of ways because money has become too big of a factor at younger ages. I’m not against players making money. If athletes can benefit from their talent, that’s great. My concern is that too many kids are chasing rankings, followers, sponsorships, and transfers before they’ve mastered the fundamentals of the game. When I was growing up, you played for your school, your community, and the love of competition. Today, it feels like loyalty has been replaced by opportunity. Some kids are being treated like celebrities before they’ve accomplished anything at the highest levels. AAU has helped expose talented players, but it has also created a culture where winning, development, and team basketball sometimes take a backseat to individual promotion. The game is still producing great players, but I think we’ve lost some of what made basketball special. The focus should be on development, education, discipline, and becoming a complete player—not just building a brand. The best players I’ve ever been around were obsessed with getting better. Today, too many young athletes are obsessed with being seen.
Q: We see you doing interviews, writing books, and appearing on podcasts. What’s next for you? More media, business ventures, or just enjoying life?
A: What’s next for me is continuing to grow and expand my brand. Over the last year, I’ve written books, done interviews, appeared on podcasts, and launched DrewSchifino.com. Recently, I had the opportunity to be interviewed on KDKA Radio, and getting a shout-out from Pat McAfee on ESPN brought a lot of attention to my platform. Those moments showed me that what I’m building is starting to reach a much larger audience. Moving forward, my focus is on media. I want to continue growing my website, producing more interviews, creating video content, telling stories that matter, and building a true media company that highlights sports, community, history, and culture. Of course, I want to enjoy life and spend time with family, but I’m still hungry. I feel like I’m just getting started, and there are bigger things ahead than basketball ever gave me. The game opened doors for me, but now I’m focused on building something that will last long after the final buzzer.