Derrick Gordon, the sophomore guard who averaged 9.4 ppg last season for UMass just announced on ESPN that he is gay making him the first homosexual player in Division I college basketball.
Gordon, who transferred from Western Kentucky prior to this past year told his teammates on April 2nd after notifying his parents and UMass coach Derek Kellogg.
“It was a rough process, actually, leading up to this,” he told ESPN. “Those guys just helped me get to where I am right now. If it wasn’t for them, I’d be stuck. For this to be happening right now, me coming out, it’s an indescribable feeling, honestly. I couldn’t be any happier. I feel like I can fly.”
Gordon’s announcement comes months after Missouri DE Michael Sam came out saying he is gay. Sam is also expected to make more history in a couple of months as it’s anticipated he gets taken in the upcoming NFL Draft. All of this too also comes after Jason Collins made his announcement last spring that he too is gay.
h/t: The Big Lead, ESPN