2014 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
Derek came to Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School as a sophomore along with Marlon Miller and Russell Williams from Power Memorial High School after Power Memorial High School closed. Derek was the starting point guard on Brother Robert Connolly’s, J.V. Basketball team which advanced to the semi-finals of the C.H.S.A.A. Playoffs where the team lost to Tolentine High School, the eventual city champs.
Derek was the starting point guard for Coach Don Kent’s Varsity Basketball team in both his junior and senior years. The left-hander was a very smart player who led the team in assists for two consecutive seasons.
In his senior year, Derek directed the Crusaders to a major upset, probably one of the biggest upsets in the history of the CHSAA playoffs when Msgr. McClancy shocked St. Raymond’s High School of the Bronx in the quarter finals with an 83-67 win. St. Raymond’s had been the Diocese of Bronx-Manhattan Champs and came into the game on a twenty game winning streak. Derek handled the ball and beat St. Raymond’s press the entire evening. The Crusaders made it to the final four losing to Cardinal Hayes in the semi-finals.
Derek was an excellent student in the classroom making First Honors all three years here and was well liked by the faculty and his fellow students. Derek made the All-Tournament Team of the Brother Arnold Tournament in his senior year and made Honorable Mention All-Queens New York Daily News and Queens Newsday. He also was Honorable mention “Tablet”. Honorable Mention CHSAA Coaches Poll (Queens Division)
After graduation Derek had an outstanding career at Springfield College in Massachusetts and went on to become a 1,000 point scorer. He played in the professional league for two summers in Puerto Rico.