Former Hawks forward John Drew passed away Sunday in Houston after a battle with bone cancer, according to his family via AL.com. He was 67.

Drew, who played at Gardner-Webb University, averaged 20.7 points and nearly seven rebounds per game in his 11-season NBA career.

He was selected with the 25th overall pick by the Hawks during the second round of the 1974 NBA draft.

After nearly a decade in Atlanta, the Hawks traded Drew, Freeman Williams and cash to the Jazz for Dominique Wilkins.

Born in Vredenburgh, Ala., Drew was one of the most dominant high school basketball players in the state’s history.

According to AL.com, Drew holds three state AHSAA records from his years (1969-72) at J.F. Shields High School in Monroe County (career scoring average, 41 points per game, 1969-72; single-season rebounding, 764 in 1971-72; and single-season rebound average, 21.8 rebounds per game, 1971-72).

Keep Reading

Atlanta Hawks' Kristaps Porziņģis celebrates with Trae Young and Nickeil Alexander-Walker during the first half in a preseason NBA basketball game at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 16, 2025, in Atlanta. The Hawks will open the regular season next week against the Raptors. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com