PARKER, Colo. — Just over 10 years after his graduation, Derrick White is a legend at his alma mater.
"It's special," he said. "To be the first one here at Legend, I was part of the first graduating class, so it's right that we got someone from that first graduating class to represent Legend."
White is the first member of the Legend High School Hall of Fame, with two of his own banners now draped from the rafters of the basketball court. A legend who is beginning to create a legacy for his family.
"I can even go and show my son when he gets older, like, 'your dad's right there.'"
It was a special night in a special place. White is Colorado through his core. After graduating from Legend High School in 2012, his only basketball scholarship offer was to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. After playing for three years, he earned the attention of Tad Boyle and his staff at the other Colorado.
He's a man who understands his roots -- and what he can do for basketball in his own hometown. He's a lot like his idol, "Mr. Big Shot," Chauncey Billups of Denver's Park Hill.
"The impact he had on myself was monumental and he probably doesn't even know it, so I just try to carry on the torch that he left off," White said. "He did it by doing all of the right things on the court and off the court and he's just a good guy to look up to."
Billups, along with Boyle, Jason Tatum, Gregg Popovich, and other NBA stars, left video messages for White during his induction ceremony.
It's that kind of role model that White is aiming to be for the next kid who is told he's "too small," or "not good enough," to make it past high school, messages he heard his whole childhood. In fact, he now has a message for his own 18-year-old self.
"Keep going. Do what you've been doing your whole life and dare to be great. That's what my dad used to tell me as a kid," White said. "You've just got to keep going and believe in yourself and good things will happen."
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