Derrick Jasper

Derrick Lamar Jasper (born April 13, 1988) is a former American basketball player from San Luis Obispo, California. He was listed as a point guard, but was considered versatile enough to also play the shooting guard and small forward positions.[1] Jasper was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2007.[2]

Derrick Jasper
CollegeUNLV
ConferenceMWC
SportBasketball
PositionGuard
Jersey #5
Career2006–2011
Height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight213 lb (97 kg)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1988-04-13) April 13, 1988
San Leandro, California
High schoolPaso Robles,
Paso Robles, California
Former school(s)Kentucky
Awards
2005 Adidas Super 64 Tournament MVP
Honors
2007 SEC All-Freshman Team

Early life

Jasper was ranked in the top 40 in many national recruiting rankings and was a consensus 4-star prospect. He was also the third-ranked point guard in the class of 2006 by Rivals.com, in addition to being ranked as the 25th overall recruit, in early 2005.[3] One of his top honors in AAU basketball was winning the MVP award at the Adidas Super 64 Tournament.[4] He attended Paso Robles High School.

After receiving offers from schools such as Memphis, Washington, and Illinois, he decided to play at the University of Kentucky, verbally committing in September 2005[5] and joining Jodie Meeks, Perry Stevenson and Michael Porter in comprising the Wildcats' 2006 recruiting class when he signed his National Letter of Intent in November.[6]

College career

Kentucky

As a freshman, Jasper was chosen to start as coach Tubby Smith's point guard. He ultimately started the final 27 games of the 2006–07 season. UK won its first 11 games with Jasper as a starter.[7]

Over the summer, he had microfracture surgery performed on his left knee[8] and missed the first 10 games of the 2007–08 season. When he returned to action, he was the Wildcats' sixth man until freshman star Patrick Patterson would sit the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his ankle. After Patterson's injury, Jasper would take his place in the lineup. His final game with Kentucky would be played in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament vs. the Marquette Golden Eagles.[9]

Jasper earned SEC Academic Honor Roll status in 2008.[10]

UNLV

In May 2008, rumors circulated that Jasper was transferring from Kentucky to a school closer to his Paso Robles, California home. The schools that were named as his possible destinations were UNLV, California and UCLA. This proved to be true when he asked for his release from the team in June. Jasper said, "My transfer is no indication of my experience here; I like the direction they're headed in - it's just that I would like to attend a place closer to my home."

Jasper transferred to UNLV to play for head coach Lon Kruger. He said he liked how he fit in with the team and how Kruger motivated his players. He sat out the 2008–09 season because of NCAA transfer rules.

In October 2009, Jasper was selected as the Preseason Mountain West Conference Newcomer of the Year.[11] He then started at guard for the Runnin' Rebels, and notably led the team to wins against 16th-ranked Louisville and No. 15 New Mexico,[12] and earned his first double-double in college in a win over Tulsa at the 76 Classic in Anaheim.[13] Jasper sustained a sprained MCL to his left knee in 2010, however, sidelining him for five weeks.[14]

References
  1. Milne, Brian (January 18, 2007). "Jasper is Developing on a National Stage". San Luis Obispo Tribune. pp. D1.
  2. 2021-22 SEC Men's Basketball Record Book. Southeastern Conference Communications. 2021. p. 124.
  3. Branch, Eric (January 28, 2005). "Dear Derrick". San Luis Obispo Tribune. pp. C1.
  4. Greene, Ryan (January 23, 2009). "2008-09 Season is Jasper's Time to Heal". Las Vegas Sun.
  5. Milne, Brian (September 30, 2005). "From Bearcat to Wildcat". The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA). pp. D1.
  6. Branch, Eric (November 10, 2005). "Jasper Signs With Kentucky". San Luis Obispo Tribune. pp. D1.
  7. 2010-11 UNLV Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Nevada-Las Vegas Athletics. 2010. p. 42.
  8. Miech, Rob (April 14, 2009). "Jasper still recovering but 'revved' for team workouts". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  9. "Derrick Jasper Stats". online database. espn. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  10. 2021-22 University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Record Book. UK Athletics. 2021. p. 55.
  11. "Rebels picked third in MWC basketball". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 6, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  12. "Derrick Jasper Stats". online database. espn. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  13. "Jasper displays scoring chops". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 26, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  14. Youmans, Matt (January 28, 2010). "Rebels' Jasper out five weeks". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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