BEYOND THE COURT: Donovan Draper
07/07/2021
Newly AAU alum and Navy football signee, Donovan Draper, talks to the AAU about how playing AAU Basketball has greatly impacted his life.
Donovan Draper, a two-sport standout at Forest Hill Community High School, has signed to play football at the Naval Academy. Draper played travel basketball with the Wellington Wolves and was a longtime AAU member (2011-2020). At the AAU World Championships this past weekend, we were able to catch up with Donovan and talk to him about how his AAU experience has helped shape his life into a now college football star hopeful.
AAU: Hi. Donovan, congrats on your commitment, for football, right?
Donovan: Yeah, I signed to play football for Navy.
AAU: That’s awesome. Well, let’s start from the beginning. How did you get into playing basketball and more specifically AAU [basketball]?
Donovan: I just grew up around basketball my whole life. I used to wear a jersey of my cousin’s travel basketball team that my grandad coached, all the way until I was like six years old and started playing basketball. Then, I played for my grandad, [at the] Wellington Wolves, from second grade until seventh grade.
AAU: How do you feel that AAU has shaped your life? Do you think it’s made an impact on the way you live?
Donovan: Definitely. It definitely kept me out of trouble and shaped me to be a good person. It has shown me how to be a leader and everything like that.
AAU: What are some of your favorite memories playing in the AAU?
Donovan: Winning the 4th grade National Championship. I was playing for Wellington Wolves and for my grandad. It was the best experience.
AAU: What’s some advice you would give to kids who are just starting to play?
Donovan: Just stick with it. Keep playing. Even though you take some losses you are always going to win in the end, so just keep with it.
AAU: Obviously you’ve been in our circuit for a while. Why do you keep coming back to our organization?
Donovan: It’s a good organization. It has high intensity tournaments. It’s just a good way to get exposure and learn how to play the game of basketball.
AAU: Well congratulations on your commitment and thank you for letting us interview you!
Donovan: Thank you.
Click here to watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.
AAU: Hi. Donovan, congrats on your commitment, for football, right?
Donovan: Yeah, I signed to play football for Navy.
AAU: That’s awesome. Well, let’s start from the beginning. How did you get into playing basketball and more specifically AAU [basketball]?
Donovan: I just grew up around basketball my whole life. I used to wear a jersey of my cousin’s travel basketball team that my grandad coached, all the way until I was like six years old and started playing basketball. Then, I played for my grandad, [at the] Wellington Wolves, from second grade until seventh grade.
AAU: How do you feel that AAU has shaped your life? Do you think it’s made an impact on the way you live?
Donovan: Definitely. It definitely kept me out of trouble and shaped me to be a good person. It has shown me how to be a leader and everything like that.
AAU: What are some of your favorite memories playing in the AAU?
Donovan: Winning the 4th grade National Championship. I was playing for Wellington Wolves and for my grandad. It was the best experience.
AAU: What’s some advice you would give to kids who are just starting to play?
Donovan: Just stick with it. Keep playing. Even though you take some losses you are always going to win in the end, so just keep with it.
AAU: Obviously you’ve been in our circuit for a while. Why do you keep coming back to our organization?
Donovan: It’s a good organization. It has high intensity tournaments. It’s just a good way to get exposure and learn how to play the game of basketball.
AAU: Well congratulations on your commitment and thank you for letting us interview you!
Donovan: Thank you.
Click here to watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.
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