Michael Drum Found a Home at Wake Forest
1/21/2020 11:22:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Les Johns
After two seasons at Presbyterian, Michael Drum was able to transfer to Wake Forest and live out his dream playing for his hometown Demon Deacons from 2005-07.
"It's incredible," Drum said recently while back at LJVM Coliseum checking out the Deacs. "Growing up as a big-time Wake Forest Demon Deacon fan and watching Randolph Childress and Tim Duncan, then coming here and living out my dream was just incredible."
Drum played in 64 games in the Old Gold & Black, getting the starting nod 26 times under Coach Skip Prosser.
"It's very difficult for a guy with a two-inch vertical," Drum said with a smile. "Everyone is faster and stronger. I think in the game of basketball, if you have a niche and you're really good at that niche, you're a great human being and you work really, really hard, anyone can achieve almost anything and help fill gaps.
"For me, it was the right time and right place. God took over."
The right time? Strangely enough, it was the unexpectedly-quick departure of Chris Paul that may have immediately opened more playing time for Drum.
"If Chris Paul is still around, then Mike Drum doesn't see a minute on the floor," he said. "It was the right time and right place. But doing the right things led to the opportunity.
"Guys who have high basketball IQ, can shoot the ball and are great teammates — they will find a way on the court."
A career 42 percent 3-point shooter, Drum scored 442 points, grabbed 126 rebounds and dished 96 assists in his two seasons with the Deacs. He shot 82.4 percent from the foul stripe.
"Everybody else made me look a lot better," Drum said about his role. "Nobody had to guard me, so it made my job a lot easier. I had to make shots. I had to make 3-pointers. I had to be the first one on the floor and the first one to take a charge. I knew my role. I had to make shots and put down free throws."
Though he only scored five points in the Feb. 14, 2007 home game against Clemson, knocking down the game winner in the waning seconds is a moment Drum will never forget.
"If you win a game for Wake Forest then you deserve your scholarship. You've earned it," Drum said Prosser told him.
"I was really lucky to earn my scholarship in the eyes of Coach P."
It was Prosser's ability to blend the talent at Wake Forest that helped make his a special coach, Drum said.
"Skip did a great job of making this place feel like home and your community for all those players," he said. "A guy like Skip Prosser was what it took to get all of us to sacrifice the 'me' for the 'we.' It was incredible to see him orchestrate what he did with all the incredible talent he had here. Everyone put their personal agenda to the back in order to help the team, but then it all got better for them personally as well at the end."
Drum is now managing partner of Atticus Franchise Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm "focused on consumer and retail companies." His group owns approximately 150 combined franchise units of Maaco, Wing Stop and Massage Envy.
"It's leading people to incredible opportunities through training and development," Drum said. "I get to watch them rise up and do incredible things for their family."
Along the way he's been able to lean on the guidance of Mit Shah, Vice Chairman of the Wake Forest University Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Athletics Committee for the Board.
"Mit is an incredible guy," Drum said. "He's been so good for Wake Forest and has changed the landscape for guys like myself. Our facilities were struggling in the past, but Mit has sacrificed financially and given his time to this institution, which might even be more important. I'm forever indebted to him personally. He's an incredible man."
Drum plans to spend more time around the Wake Forest basketball program moving forward.
"I would love to get more guys back around this program," he said. "We've had some incredible highs and have experienced some lows. It's a great time for all the guys to come back together and get this program back to where we know it can be."
"It's incredible," Drum said recently while back at LJVM Coliseum checking out the Deacs. "Growing up as a big-time Wake Forest Demon Deacon fan and watching Randolph Childress and Tim Duncan, then coming here and living out my dream was just incredible."
Drum played in 64 games in the Old Gold & Black, getting the starting nod 26 times under Coach Skip Prosser.
"It's very difficult for a guy with a two-inch vertical," Drum said with a smile. "Everyone is faster and stronger. I think in the game of basketball, if you have a niche and you're really good at that niche, you're a great human being and you work really, really hard, anyone can achieve almost anything and help fill gaps.
"For me, it was the right time and right place. God took over."
The right time? Strangely enough, it was the unexpectedly-quick departure of Chris Paul that may have immediately opened more playing time for Drum.
"If Chris Paul is still around, then Mike Drum doesn't see a minute on the floor," he said. "It was the right time and right place. But doing the right things led to the opportunity.
"Guys who have high basketball IQ, can shoot the ball and are great teammates — they will find a way on the court."
A career 42 percent 3-point shooter, Drum scored 442 points, grabbed 126 rebounds and dished 96 assists in his two seasons with the Deacs. He shot 82.4 percent from the foul stripe.
"Everybody else made me look a lot better," Drum said about his role. "Nobody had to guard me, so it made my job a lot easier. I had to make shots. I had to make 3-pointers. I had to be the first one on the floor and the first one to take a charge. I knew my role. I had to make shots and put down free throws."
Though he only scored five points in the Feb. 14, 2007 home game against Clemson, knocking down the game winner in the waning seconds is a moment Drum will never forget.
"If you win a game for Wake Forest then you deserve your scholarship. You've earned it," Drum said Prosser told him.
"I was really lucky to earn my scholarship in the eyes of Coach P."
It was Prosser's ability to blend the talent at Wake Forest that helped make his a special coach, Drum said.
"Skip did a great job of making this place feel like home and your community for all those players," he said. "A guy like Skip Prosser was what it took to get all of us to sacrifice the 'me' for the 'we.' It was incredible to see him orchestrate what he did with all the incredible talent he had here. Everyone put their personal agenda to the back in order to help the team, but then it all got better for them personally as well at the end."
Drum is now managing partner of Atticus Franchise Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm "focused on consumer and retail companies." His group owns approximately 150 combined franchise units of Maaco, Wing Stop and Massage Envy.
"It's leading people to incredible opportunities through training and development," Drum said. "I get to watch them rise up and do incredible things for their family."
Along the way he's been able to lean on the guidance of Mit Shah, Vice Chairman of the Wake Forest University Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Athletics Committee for the Board.
"Mit is an incredible guy," Drum said. "He's been so good for Wake Forest and has changed the landscape for guys like myself. Our facilities were struggling in the past, but Mit has sacrificed financially and given his time to this institution, which might even be more important. I'm forever indebted to him personally. He's an incredible man."
Drum plans to spend more time around the Wake Forest basketball program moving forward.
"I would love to get more guys back around this program," he said. "We've had some incredible highs and have experienced some lows. It's a great time for all the guys to come back together and get this program back to where we know it can be."
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