Hometown newspaper article-Derrick Wilson

[SweetAlaska]

Former T-bird got chance to dance as a Golden Eagle
Wilson, a freshman guard at Marquette, went to Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

By JEREMY PETERS
Anchorage Daily News
Published: March 30th, 2012 12:48 AM

Derrick Wilson, once a budding basketball star at East High, took his playing career to new heights when he made a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament last week.

The 6-foot-1 freshman guard at Marquette played a limited role in three NCAA tournament games with the Golden Eagles, but was thrilled just to see court time in the prestigious event.

"It was a great experience, it's something you dream about when you're a little kid," Wilson said. "It's not like any other game. It's March Madness."

Wilson, 20, said the electric atmosphere and excitement inherent to the tournament provided a great motivator for a return appearance. He'll likely have ample opportunity playing for the Golden Eagles, who have made the NCAA tournament in each of the last seven seasons.

Wilson is the first member of a basketball family to reach the NCAA Tournament. He was a freshman at East in 2007, when he started on varsity alongside his senior brother Damar Wilson, who graduated and went on to play Division I college basketball.

Derrick Wilson left Anchorage after his freshman season at East, finishing high school at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, where he was a four-time All-New England basketball selection.

The decision to attend Hotchkiss was primarily an academic one, Wilson said, but playing basketball there gave him a chance to compete against some nationally-ranked teams and take his game to a higher level. Had he stayed at East, playing for Marquette may have been less likely.

"I think I could have, it just would have been a lot harder with the recruiting process," Wilson said.

Wilson said he is a versatile point guard with a lot of speed and strength, but when he got to Marquette he wasn't quite ready for Division I basketball.

"At first it was tough, the speed of the game," Wilson said. "Once I got used to it, I started playing better."

His acclimation was aided by Junior Cadougan, a starting junior guard for Marquette who shared a small Alaskan connection with Wilson.

Cadougan was in Alaska in 2009, helping Texas' Christian Life Academy to a title in the Alaska Airlines Classic high school basketball tournament at West High.

"One of my best friends played against him," Wilson said. "That's how we first started talking."

The two formed a friendship and Cadougan has sort of taken Wilson under his wing. Wilson, who started twice this season and averaged nine minutes per game, said he has improved and expects to earn more playing time next season.

"I'm just becoming a better overall player, being more vocal, getting ready for the next year," he said.

Wilson, a corporate communications major, still visits his parents in Anchorage. Dennis and Sheila Wilson were both competitive players in their youth and played a big role in Wilson's development as a basketball player.

"They're still involved, but it's not as intense as it used to be," Wilson said.

Nobody in Wilson's family was surprised when Marquette was invited to the NCAA tournament as the No. 3 seed in the West Region, and nobody was too fired up until Marquette notched wins over BYU and Murray State.

"When we made it to the Sweet 16 is when everyone got excited," Wilson said.

Wilson didn't know Murray State won November's Great Alaska Shootout until his brother informed him shortly before Marquette faced the Racers in the third round of the NCAAs.

After defeating Murray State 62-53, Marquette went on to lose to Florida 68-58 in the next round, but Wilson said he knows the Golden Eagles have the talent to go deeper in the tournament next season.

"Anyone can win on any given night," he said. "To be in the top 68 out of 300 some odd schools, the talent's all the same."

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Nice article and yet another great kid who plays for
Marquette. Future is bright!

[T-Bone]

Nice article on one of the quieter Warriors. 
Didn't realize he was 20. 

[Knight Commission]

His look and guard play reminds me of Will Gates. Hopefully Buzz doesn't make the same dubious KO move  and switch him to the 4 spot.

[strotty]

Nice article on one of the quieter Warriors. 
Didn't realize he was 20. 

How's this for crazy: Todd Mayo is 21, Vander Blue is 18.

[Dr. Blackheart]

How's this for crazy: Todd Mayo is 21, Vander Blue is 18.

And JFB is 22

[drewm88]

How's this for crazy: Todd Mayo is 21, Vander Blue is 18.

Vander's 19.

[strotty]

Vander's 19.

Yeah, my bad. 18 would be a tad bit too young, but still he's crazy young for his class.

[77ncaachamps]

Is it safe to say that Buzz's teams have been generally older than the norm (at Marquette) or even in the NCAAs?

[real chili 83]

How old was Deiner as a frosh?

[Windyplayer]

Is it too much to ask the author to tell the readers where his brother played DI basketball?

EDIT: My in-depth research (Google) revealed that he went to Southern Utah and North Dakota State.

[nyg]

Yeah, my bad. 18 would be a tad bit too young, but still he's crazy young for his class.

I don't understand the "young" for a sophomore thing, yet alone crazy young.

Vander was born in July, 1992

Here are some other sophomores just for comparison:

Kyrie Irving (would have been soph)  March, 1992
Jared Sullinger                               March, 1992
Harrison Barnes                             May, 1992
Jeremy Lamb                                 May, 1992
Jerian Grant                                  October, 1992
Josh Gasser                                   June, 1992

Maybe if Vander was born like 12/30/92 it may be a difference, but now....no.

[Markusquette]

I don't understand the "young" for a sophomore thing, yet alone crazy young.

Vander was born in July, 1992

Here are some other sophomores just for comparison:

Kyrie Irving (would have been soph)  March, 1992
Jared Sullinger                               March, 1992
Harrison Barnes                             May, 1992
Jeremy Lamb                                 May, 1992
Jerian Grant                                  October, 1992
Josh Gasser                                   June, 1992

Maybe if Vander was born like 12/30/92 it may be a difference, but now....no.

Right.  Not crazy young by any means.  Younger than many in his class yes, but not uncommon.

[madtownwarrior]

better question - how is Mayo a 21 year old freshman?

[GGGG]

better question - how is Mayo a 21 year old freshman?

He was born March 1991, so he should be a junior now.  He did the year of prep school.  And he could have been held back along the way for whatever reason.