Born: November 28, 1982- Independence, MO

High Schools: Midwestern Christian Academy (Oak Grove, MO) 1998 to 2000
Grain Valley High School (Grain Valley, MO) 2000-2001

Colleges: Northwestern College (St. Paul, MN) 2001-2002
Mid-America Nazarene University (Olathe, KS) 2002-2006

Dereck led the Midwestern Christian Academy Saints to (2) 20+ win seasons and to 2nd place finishes in the Mo-Kan Conference and MCSAA tournament both his sophomore and junior season. He was selected to the Mo-Kan All-Conference Team and the MCSAA All-State Team both his sophomore and junior seasons as well. Dereck suffered and played through multiple shoulder injuries during his sophomore and junior seasons. He had surgery in March of 2000 repairing a torn labrum and damaged ligaments. The surgery was successful and he was ready to return to action for his senior season.

For his senior year, Dereck transferred to Grain Valley High. He helped lead the Eagles to a Show-Me West conference championship. The Eagles finished with a record of 19-6 and spent many weeks in the Top Ten of the Class 3 Missouri High School Rankings. Dereck was named to the Show-Me West All-Conference Team, to the Examiner’s All-Area Team, and was selected to participate in the Penn Valley Community College High School All-Star Game.

In the summer of 2001, Dereck attended the Midwest Invitational Showcase at the University of Minnesota. His talent was recognized by Northwestern College and he received a scholarship to attend starting the fall of 2001. He suffered a shoulder injury during the first practice of his freshman season. He returned to action in late November of 2001. His parents and grandparents were able to see him play two games, one in which he scored 10 points in just 8 minutes, before he suffered a career ending shoulder injury just a few weeks later.

The fall of 2002 Dereck transferred to Mid-America Nazarene University to be closer to his family. He graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology.

During the summers of 2003 and 2004, Dereck coached a 7th and 8th grade AAU basketball team (KC Tarheels).

Most recently Dereck has been the assistant coach of the varsity boys basketball team at Plaza Heights Christian Academy. He coached the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. He helped guide the team to a 2nd place finish in the Mo-Kan Conference Tournament and a 3rd place finish in the MCSAA tournament during the 2009-10 season.

In the spring of 2010 Dereck joined Midwest Sports Advisors (MSA) to start the basketball division of MSA. He has a strong love for the game of basketball but more importantly a passion to see student-athletes succeed on the court, in the classroom, and in life.

Dereck is also currently employed by Farmers Insurance Group as a Commercial Property Claims Adjuster and has been since December of 2007.

In 2004 Dereck married Audra Armstrong.
Dereck and Audra presently live in Grain Valley, MO. They have 3 children- Reese (4), Mia Joy (2), Livia (1).