Prospect Spotlight: Dereck Gillett (2019)
One of the state’s most exciting small school players, Rock Hills 2019 forward Dereck Gillett is putting together a big season, throwing down dunks, scoring buckets and grabbing rebounds. At 6’4, Gillett is a combination of skill, size and athleticism,…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOne of the state’s most exciting small school players, Rock Hills 2019 forward Dereck Gillett is putting together a big season, throwing down dunks, scoring buckets and grabbing rebounds.
At 6’4, Gillett is a combination of skill, size and athleticism, and brings a football mentality to the hardwood.
“I play with a lot of intensity and aggression,” Gillett said. “Hustling is the most important thing to me. Teams who hustle win.”
Gillett spent the offseason competing for SSA Elite 17U White Team and says the experience helped prepare him for the upcoming season.
“I enjoyed it a lot,” he says. “It was a lot different than 1a basketball. It taught me a lot about my own game and what I needed to do to be successful my senior year.”
As the Grizzlies only returning starter, Gillett is averaging 17 points and 14 rebounds per game as he has helped lead Rock Hills to an 8-8 record.
“We are a very young team with a lot of potential,” Gillett says.
Gillett says the biggest influence in basketball and athletics in general.
“He has always pushed me to be the best I can,” he says.
A fan of Kansas State, Gillett says he appreciates the Wildcats’ defensive intensity.
Gillett has committed to play college football at Benedictine, and says he struggled to choose one sport over another as he also held a basketball offer from Bethel.
He has continued to draw interest from various NAIA and JUCO basketball programs.
“I committed to Benedictine because I liked the winning culture they have their and the academics that the school provides,” he said. “I love football and basketba