NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Watch: Derrick White

Jan 28, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Derrick White (21) reacts after a play in the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Coors Events Center. The Buffaloes defeated the Ducks 74-65. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Derrick White (21) reacts after a play in the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Coors Events Center. The Buffaloes defeated the Ducks 74-65. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA Draft
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick White fought against the odds just to reach Division 1 level basketball. Now he’s rising up draft boards and ensuring his chances to be picked in this year’s NBA Draft.

Who is Derrick White?

For all players keen on entering the NBA, the NBA Draft represents the next step in their story and the culmination of all the hard work they’ve had to go through just to get to this point. In the case of Derrick White, it’s a step that would have been unimaginable at one point in time.

An accomplished player in high school, White was an unheralded recruit as he failed to receive a single scholarship offer from a Division I school. A big reason for that was that White was incredibly undersized as a point guard as he stood just six feet tall and weighed 155 pounds during his senior season.

Just before he was set to graduate, White managed to find a place at the D-II University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, with the help of his father. That turn of events would help set everything in motion for White to rise through the ranks.

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By the time he started his freshman year at UCCS, White stood five inches taller and plans to have him redshirted for the year were scrapped following an injury to the team’s starting point guard.

From there, White seized on the opportunity and immediately made an impact posting gaudy numbers as the team’s starting point guard. White’s production and effectiveness would only increase in his sophomore and junior seasons and the team’s overall performance was better because of it as they reached the Division II NCAA Tournament in the 2014-15 season.

Following the end of his junior year, White made the decision to transfer to the University of Colorado in Boulder, knowing that this would be his final chance to prove himself on the Division I level.

It was a challenge White not only lived up to, but exceeded as his transition to the D-I level was as smooth as you could envision, especially in a highly competitive Pac-12 conference. Although the Buffaloes failed to ensure a berth in the NCAA tournament this season, White’s season didn’t go unrecognized as he earned all-Pac-12 first team honors.

With that, it’s time to dig deeper into White’s strengths, weaknesses and much, much more.