EMINENCE — Ethan Drake has high expectations for the upcoming season at Eminence as the Redwings return a host of varsity regulars from a team that went 20-10 a year ago and captured a district title.

A 6’0, 170-pound senior guard, Drake brings a well-rounded game to the court. At the offensive end, he likes to drive and kick the ball to open shooters and can also take a smaller player to the post. He can finish drives, shoot a high percentage from 3 and rebounds the ball well for a guard.

This past summer he competed with the Storm Elite, and says the experience helped prepare him for the upcoming season.

“This summer I played against some very talented and athletic players, and I feel that it helped me become a more solid floor general and allowed to me adapt to higher paced games,” he says.

With several key players returning, expectations are high for Eminence this season as they hope to make a push in the Class 1 playoffs. Last year the Redwings lost in the quarterfinals to Advance.

“The rest of the team and I are very excited for the upcoming season,” Drake said. “Our goal is to go the Final 4 and take home a state championship. I feel that this is a very achievable goal with the amount of talent and athleticism on our team.”

Eminence is schedule to face Advance in a rematch to open the season as part of the Current River Shootout on Saturday at Van Buren High School.

“I look forward to playing Advance at the beginning of the season,” Drake said. “We lost to them in quarterfinals last season and I would really like to come out and win that game to start our season right.”

A fan of the Warriors Steph Curry, Drake says his mother has had the biggest influence on his basketball career to date.

“She has always pushed me to get better and to work as hard I possibly can,” he said. “She has payed for me to play on traveling teams, multiple camps, and put in time with me at the gym. There’s no way I’d be the player I am today without her backing me.”