Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
UMass Guard Derrick Gordon Says Other Gay Players Will Come Out
Derrick Gordon is the first openly gay player in Division 1 men’s basketball, but the UMass guard believes it’s only a matter of time before others follow his trailblazing path.
“There’s a lot of us out there; I guess they’re afraid,” Gordon told Zach Schonbrun of the New York Times Friday when he scored 17 points as UMass defeated Siena, 95-87. “But everybody has their own time to come out. Mine just happened to be April 9.”
Gordon came out back in April, saying he was inspired by Jason Collins and Michael Sam.
“I see a difference in him as a person,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg told the Times. “He’s not hiding behind anything anymore. He’s just one of the guys.”
Gordon played high school ball at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick with Kyrie Irving, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Dakari Johnson.
His parents attended UMass’s opener, as did his twin brother Darryl, who was released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for attempted murder.
“I held back the tears,” he said. “That’s something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.”
Photo: Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist for The New York Times
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Derrick Gordon is the first openly gay player in Division 1 men’s basketball, but the UMass guard believes it’s only a matter of time before others follow his trailblazing path.
“There’s a lot of us out there; I guess they’re afraid,” Gordon told Zach Schonbrun of the New York Times Friday when he scored 17 points as UMass defeated Siena, 95-87. “But everybody has their own time to come out. Mine just happened to be April 9.”
Gordon came out back in April, saying he was inspired by Jason Collins and Michael Sam.
“I see a difference in him as a person,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg told the Times. “He’s not hiding behind anything anymore. He’s just one of the guys.”
Gordon played high school ball at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick with Kyrie Irving, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Dakari Johnson.
His parents attended UMass’s opener, as did his twin brother Darryl, who was released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for attempted murder.
“I held back the tears,” he said. “That’s something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.”
Photo: Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist for The New York Times
