ROCK HILL, SC—Derrick Scott, a 6-8, 200-lb. shooting guard/forward who played for Dorman High School in Spartanburg, SC, has signed a basketball scholarship to play at Winthrop, according to Eagles head coach Randy Peele.
Scott averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds per game for Dorman last season, and was selected to the all-region team after competing two seasons for the Cavaliers and head coach Thomas Ryan. Scott transferred to Dorman prior to his junior year from Palm Coast, FL.
Peele said Winthrop was looking to fill a need in its outside shooting game after last year's season ended with a 61-44 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the opening round of the NCAA tournament in which the Eagles shot just 9 percent. He believes Scott will provide help with his 3-point shooting ability. Peele said Scott reportedly connected on 42 of 50 3-pointers in a workout. “He can really shoot the ball,” says Peele.
Ryan told the Spartanburg Herald after Scott signed that he thinks Winthrop is getting a diamond in the rough. “He's one of the best shooters I've coached and he will be a valuable asset for them (Winthrop),” he said. “I still think Derrick's best basketball is yet to come.”
Scott joins a freshman class that also includes 6-5 Joey Jerome from Marietta, GA, 6-9 Martaveous Smith of Waynesboro, GA;, and 6-11 Julius Francis from Nigeria. In 2009-10 the Eagles captured the Big South Conference championship for the ninth time in the past 12 years and the second during Peele's three years at the helm.
