Wharton's Drew Vanderbrook signs with junior college

Wharton low-post reserve Drew Vanderbrook signed Thursday with Indian River State College, a two-year program in Fort Pierce.

A 6-foot-8 Freedom transfer, Vanderbrook said he chose IRSC over a handful of other junior colleges and Division III programs. He becomes the second member of Wharton's Class 8A final four team to sign with a college, joining PG C.J. McGill (University of Mobile).

Vanderbrook was part of the normal playing rotation for the Wildcats (25-5), who earned the 16-year-old program’s first state tournament berth. He averaged 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds, scoring four in a 46-38 state semifinal loss to South Miami.

As a junior at Freedom, Vanderbrook averaged 7.8 points and 2.9 rebounds. He joins an IRSC program that has won 46 games over the past two seasons and captured the Southern Conference Tournament title in 2012.

“I definitely feel like (IRSC) is a place where I could work and in the end come out with a Division I (scholarship),” Vanderbrook said.

Standing (L to R): IRSC coach Joe Sanchez, Scott Vanderbrook (father), Melissa Vanderbrook (mother), Wharton coach Tommy Tonelli. Seated: Drew Vanderbrook