Derrick White’s career has been a rollercoaster, but the 30-year-old has finally established himself as one of the best players in the NBA. White had zero Division I scholarship offers when he was fresh out of high school and was forced to go from scout team player to All-American at the Division II level.
After more ups and downs, White is now an NBA starter, a champion, and also a U.S. Olympian.
Derrick White’s Unconventional Rise To The NBA
White’s journey to professional basketball from a D-II program proves that players can rise through the ranks to the top.
White was considered too small to play at the Division I level—he stood at 6’0″ and weighed 155 pounds as a senior in high school. However, he didn’t let that hold him back. He played three years at the Division II University of Colorado–Colorado Springs (UCCS).
Derrick White had ZERO D-I scholarship offers out of HS.
▪Went from scout team to All-American at the D-II level
▪Transferred and played one season at Colorado (D-I)
▪Used his first NBA contract to pay off student loans
▪NBA Starter
▪NBA Champion
▪US Olympian pic.twitter.com/ZgpE6da4um— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) May 6, 2025
He initially found himself on the scout team but eventually excelled, becoming a standout player and winning accolades, including All-American honors. He led the team to the NCAA Tournament, averaging 16.9 points as a freshman and 25.8 points as a junior.
After his junior year at UCCS, White transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder, a Division I school.
White had to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, but as a senior, he averaged 18.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds, earning a spot on the All-Pac-12 First Team.
The Colorado-born star was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 29th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. However, he still had to use his first NBA contract to pay off student loans. After several seasons with the Spurs, he was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2022.
White’s journey with the Celtics has been remarkable; he has become an integral part of the team. In the 2022 NBA Finals, he scored 21 points off the bench in Game 1, announcing himself on the biggest stage.
KEEP READING: UC San Diego’s Fairytale Run: How a Former D-II Team Became a March Madness Threat
White’s success demonstrates that Division II can be a viable path to the NBA. From D-II basketball at the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs to becoming an NBA champion with the Celtics—and now a Team USA selection for the Paris Olympics following an injury to Kawhi Leonard—the 30-year-old has proven that players can rise through the ranks.
Division II can indeed be a stepping stone.
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