One of the hottest names in the class of 2022, Dereck Lively has been gaining a lot of traction as of late. The 7-foot-1 big man from Bellefonte (Pa.) recently completed his official visit with North Carolina and will have an unofficial visit Monday with Penn State. He has official visits to Kentucky (June 20-22), Duke (June 29- July 1), and a visit with Michigan later. Lively plans on cutting down his list in the next month or so and make a decision in the fall or winter of his senior year after he reviews all his options.
Lively recapped his visit with UNC and discussed two of his other potential destinations with 247Sports.
“UNC was a great first visit and it set the bar very high,” he said. “I really enjoyed and liked the experience. The environment is something I can see myself playing at and being a part of so it was a great visit overall.”
“Hubert Davis is a great coach and I really liked his energy and his personality,” he continued. “I liked the stuff that he brought to the table. He was very honest and told me everything I like hearing. He kind of brought up that ‘If you come here, you come here to play basketball. You won't be coming here to come sit in the paint or just set screens. You will be coming here to be a basketball player. You need to know all things like putting the ball on the floor, shoot jumpers, rebound, pass, score, and just do all the things.’
“It was something I liked hearing,” said Lively. “I also got to meet the rest of the coaching staff like Coach (Jeff) Lebo and Coach Sean May, who's a great energy guy. I just really like the coaching staff and the players. They mainly said I wouldn't be playing like a traditional big, I would be spreading the floor and even bringing the ball up the court off the rebound and just playing more of all positions.”
Penn State: “They've been bringing this hometown hero mentality and how this is the home I’ve mainly been growing up in since I was younger. To be a part of the family that I've always been a part of. Being in the hallways that I've walked through and I've always been to the games so it's just something that I've been a part of and imagined myself playing in. It's another option that I'm always thinking about.”
“With my mom working there I've always been around the men's and women's basketball teams because I would be in her office. Seeing what they have and the energy around Penn State, how it’s great to be a Nittany Lion and stay a hometown hero is what I like hearing and what I can see myself being a part of.”
Michigan: “I plan to visit Michigan during the fall or the winter so I can see the football environment and how much energy they can bring. Also to see the full experience with the entire student body there is something I'm looking forward to as well.”
“Michigan football has always had a lot of energy and I've watched them a lot when I was younger. The energy from that school is just something that is exhilarating and something I can definitely be a part of.”
“Michigan is always talking about how Juwan (Howard) would coach me personally and develop me. That's one part of the game that I would solidify and perfect because of who Juwan Howard is. I've always watched him when I was younger, so I see what he has to offer and how he can transcend my game to the league.”
With Lively continuing to get more buzz from his play this season, this hasn't changed his approach and he will be looking for a school that can help his game with the goal of playing in the NBA after college.
“It's good to see all the hard work I've been doing pay off and people are starting to see and realize,” he said. “With all this happening it doesn't change anything with me. It doesn't make my head bigger. I'm really just staying humble with it and taking everything I can and keep climbing and show everyone what I can do.
“We're mainly looking at schools that are going to develop me and take my game and refine it for more of a league aspect and help me master my game in any way that I can. The energy and environment of each school has to be high energy and always out of the ordinary because that's something I want to be a part of.”
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June 15, 2021 at 12:11AM
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Four-star big man Dereck Lively recaps UNC visit, talks other destinations - 247Sports
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