Derrick Phelps
Encyclopedia
Derrick Michael Phelps is an American former professional basketball
player. At 6' 4" and 181 lbs., he played as a point guard
.
Phelps attended Christ The King Regional High School
in Middle Village, Queens
, New York
. He was named to the 1990 McDonald's All-American Team
. After, he played in the McDonald's All-American game with future UNC teammates Eric Montross
, Brian Reese and Clifford Rozier
.
He then rose to prominence while playing college basketball
for coach Dean Smith
at the University of North Carolina
. He was named as an All-Atlantic Coast Conference
Honorable Mention in 1993, and was named to the 2nd Team in 1994. Phelps was a member of North Carolina's 1993 NCAA National Championship
team, as the Tar Heels defeated Michigan
77-71 in the title game. Graduating in 1994, Phelps left college holding two Tar Heel records: most steals
in one game (9) and in a career (247).
Phelps was never drafted by an NBA
team, but did play in three games for the Sacramento Kings
in the 1994-95 season. The Vancouver Grizzlies
selected him in the 1995 expansion draft
, but he did not play for them before they renounced his NBA rights in 1996. He also spent some time during pre-season (but not in any regular season contests) with the Milwaukee Bucks
(1994) and Philadelphia 76ers
(1997).
Subsequently, Phelps plied his trade in the Continental Basketball Association
and overseas: from 2000–02, he played for ALBA Berlin
with former UNC teammate Henrik Rödl
(having already played in Telekom Baskets Bonn
in 1998–2000). He then played in France, returned to Germany, and had a brief stint in 2004 with Śląsk Wrocław in the Polish League
.
Phelps has also played in the Netherlands, in Germany with GHP Bamberg
, and in the Russian League
for Spartak Primorie Vladivostok
.
In the 2009-10 season, he played for Gaz Metan Medias in the Romanian League.
In October 2010, he was named video coordinator for Fordham University
's men's basketball team.
He is currently an assistant basketball coach at Monmouth University
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. At 6' 4" and 181 lbs., he played as a point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
.
Phelps attended Christ The King Regional High School
Christ The King Regional High School
Christ the King Regional High School is a Catholic high school located in Middle Village, Queens, New York, USA and established in 1962. Often referred to as 'CK' among its students, it is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.-History:...
in Middle Village, Queens
Middle Village, Queens
Middle Village is a neighborhood in central Queens, a borough of New York City. The neighborhood is located in the western central section of Queens, bounded to the north by Eliot Avenue, to the east by Woodhaven Boulevard, to the south by Cooper Avenue, and to the west by Fresh Pond Road...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was named to the 1990 McDonald's All-American Team
McDonald's All-American Team
The McDonald's All-American Game refers to each of the all-star basketball games played each year for boys' and girls' high-school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top American and Canadian players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high-school basketball...
. After, he played in the McDonald's All-American game with future UNC teammates Eric Montross
Eric Montross
Eric Scott Montross is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA....
, Brian Reese and Clifford Rozier
Clifford Rozier
Clifford Glen Rozier is a retired American professional basketball player.He was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 1st round of the 1994 NBA Draft. Rozier played for the Warriors, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves in 4 NBA seasons...
.
He then rose to prominence while playing college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for coach Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. He was named as an All-Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
Honorable Mention in 1993, and was named to the 2nd Team in 1994. Phelps was a member of North Carolina's 1993 NCAA National Championship
1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
team, as the Tar Heels defeated Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
77-71 in the title game. Graduating in 1994, Phelps left college holding two Tar Heel records: most steals
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
in one game (9) and in a career (247).
Phelps was never drafted by an NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
team, but did play in three games for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in the 1994-95 season. The Vancouver Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
selected him in the 1995 expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
, but he did not play for them before they renounced his NBA rights in 1996. He also spent some time during pre-season (but not in any regular season contests) with the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
(1994) and Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
(1997).
Subsequently, Phelps plied his trade in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
and overseas: from 2000–02, he played for ALBA Berlin
ALBA Berlin
-Depth Chart:* Denotes injured player.-Championships:*German Championships: 8 *German Cups: 6 *Korać Cups: 1 -Notable players:- Season by season :-External links:...
with former UNC teammate Henrik Rödl
Henrik Rödl
Henrik Rödl is a retired German professional basketball player, and currently a basketball coach. He played college basketball in the US for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina...
(having already played in Telekom Baskets Bonn
Telekom Baskets Bonn
Telekom Baskets Bonn is a professional basketball club that is based in Bonn, Germany. The club plays in the German Basketball League, which is the highest level pro basketball league in Germany. The club's sponsor is the German company Deutsche Telekom, a big telephone and internet company, which...
in 1998–2000). He then played in France, returned to Germany, and had a brief stint in 2004 with Śląsk Wrocław in the Polish League
Dominet Basket Liga
Polska Liga Koszykówki AKA Tauron Basket Liga or in English, the Polish Basketball League, is the highest level league of basketball in Poland...
.
Phelps has also played in the Netherlands, in Germany with GHP Bamberg
GHP Bamberg
Brose Baskets is a German professional basketball club that is based in Bamberg, Franconia. The club competes in the German League and the Euroleague. The club's home arena is Stechert Arena, formerly known as Jako Arena.-History:...
, and in the Russian League
Russian Basketball Super League
The Russian Basketball SuperLeague is a men's professional basketball league that was the pre-eminent league of Russian professional basketball until 2010...
for Spartak Primorie Vladivostok
Spartak Primorje
Spartak Primorje is a Russian professional basketball club based in Vladivostok, Russia. It currently plays in the Russian Professional Basketball League.-Notable players:...
.
In the 2009-10 season, he played for Gaz Metan Medias in the Romanian League.
In October 2010, he was named video coordinator for Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
's men's basketball team.
He is currently an assistant basketball coach at Monmouth University
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
.