Just prior to his sophomore season Derrick had a medical episode that rendered him dependent on medications that caused him to become heavy and stole from us the sleek, mobile athlete, with the soft hands, limiting his athletic abilities and ability to function in a productive manner throughout the remainder of his life.  Despite battling through these limitations, Derrick still managed to score 854 career points and his teams won 46 games (46-14) during his junior and senior seasons.  He was still good enough to be selected to play for the Derek Smith All-Stars, and there were colleges willing to take a chance on him.

Derrick remained my friend through 2019, fishing with me often here locally, and making several trips to Canada.  These are fond memories of better times.  In the latter years of his life, Derrick lived in a group home where his health deteriorated, and he passed away last week at the age of 38. 

His death is certainly a tragedy, in more ways than one.  Selfishly, I often wonder what a healthy Derrick Rhoden could have become, as I watch lesser players excel in college basketball.  With his size and his skill set there is no reason that he would not have played professional basketball.  Unfortunately, he will be remembered as the player he became late in his high school career.  It is tragic that his disability did not allow him to lead a normal, productive life, and that he basically spent his later years facing this early life, death sentence.

DS