UMass Guard Derrick Gordon Is Divison I College Basketball’s First Openly Gay Player

University of Massachusetts guard Derrick Gordon has become the first openly gay Division I men’s college basketball player by sharing his story with ESPN and Outsports.

 

The sophomore averaged 9.4 points and 3.3 rebounds this season for the Minutemen, and started all of the team’s 33 games.

“I just didn’t want to hide anymore, in any way,” Gordon told ESPN. “I didn’t want to have to lie or sneak. I’ve been waiting and watching for the last few months, wondering when a Division I player would come out, and finally I just said, ‘Why not me?'”

Gordon came out to his teammates, friends and families over the course of a few days at the beginning of the month.

His announcement comes on the heels of similar revelations from NBA center Jason Collins and NFL prospect Michael Sam.

[H/T: ESPN and Outsports]