Derek Culver
Free agent
PositionCenter
Personal information
Born (1998-05-24) May 24, 1998
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeWest Virginia (2018–2021)
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2021–2022Wisconsin Herd
2022Delaware Blue Coats
2023Capitanes de Ciudad de México
2023Lakeland Magic
2023Delaware Blue Coats
Career highlights and awards

Derek Culver (born May 24, 1998) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Early life and high school career

Culver grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, which he called "a violent place, there’s really not a lot going on there." He attended Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio and was coached by Andy Vlajkovich.[1] As a junior, he averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, leading his team to a Division I district title and the regional semifinals. Culver was dismissed from the team midway through his senior season for undisclosed reasons.[2] He played a postgraduate year at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.[3] Culver averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game and earned First Team New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AAA selection. He led his team to the NEPSAC Class AAA regular season title.[4] A consensus four-star recruit, he committed to play college basketball for West Virginia over offers from Arizona, Kansas and Indiana, among others.[5]

College career

Before playing for West Virginia, Culver was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. He was reinstated after about one month.[6] On February 4, 2019, Culver recorded a freshman season-high 23 points and 12 rebounds in an 81–50 loss to Texas Tech.[7] On February 26, he posted 22 points and 21 rebounds in a 104–96 triple overtime win over TCU.[8] He became the first West Virginia player to record at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Mo Robinson in 1977.[9] As a freshman, Culver averaged 11.5 points and a team-high 9.9 rebounds, leading the Big 12 in rebounding during conference play. He was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 and was a unanimous Big 12 All-Freshman Team selection.[4]

Entering his sophomore season, Culver was among 20 players named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award watch list.[10] On December 1, 2019, he tallied a career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds off the bench in an 86–81 victory over Rhode Island.[11] Culver was often tasked with defending smaller players and was sometimes benched in favor of a smaller lineup.[12][13] As a sophomore, he averaged 10.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and was named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.[4]

Culver began his junior season by leading the Mountaineers to the Crossover Classic Championship. Culver averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named MVP of the tournament. He finished his college career with 1,036 points and 799 rebounds.

On April 26, 2021, Athletes Sports Management announced that it had signed Culver, and the agency's president also said that he would not be returning to West Virginia for another season. Culver denied this on Instagram, and a spokesperson for the school said that he has not told the Mountaineers he was leaving. Later that day, Culver clarified all of the confusion and officially announced that he would forego his senior year and explore professional options.[14] Culver went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Professional career

Fort Wayne Mad Ants (2021)

On October 15, 2021, Culver signed with the Indiana Pacers, but was waived the following day.[15] He joined the Fort Wayne Mad Ants as an affiliate player.[16] On November 2, Culver was waived before the season opener.[17]

Wisconsin Herd (2021–2022)

On December 18, 2021, Culver was acquired by the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League. He was later waived on January 5, 2022.[18]

Delaware Blue Coats (2022)

On November 4, 2022, Culver was named to the opening night roster for the Delaware Blue Coats.[19] However, he was waived on December 3.[20]

Capitanes de Ciudad de México (2023)

On January 4, 2023, Culver was acquired by the Capitanes de Ciudad de México.[21] On February 14, 2023, Culver was waived.[22] Four days later, he was acquired by the South Bay Lakers, but was waived five days later before playing for South Bay.[23]

Lakeland Magic (2023)

On February 25, 2023, Culver was acquired by the Lakeland Magic. Two days later, he was waived, after appearing in one game.[24]

Return to Delaware (2023)

On March 4, 2023, Culver was reacquired by the Delaware Blue Coats,[25] and eventually helped the team win the NBA G League title.[26] On October 29, he re-joined the Blue Coats,[27] but was waived on December 27.[28]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 West Virginia 261427.0.456.000.5859.91.7.5.711.5
2019–20 West Virginia 312524.5.457.000.5178.61.7.8.810.4
2020–21 West Virginia 292826.3.478—.6249.41.1.8.814.3
Career 866725.9.465.000.5769.31.5.7.812.0

Personal life

Culver's cousin Lynn Bowden played quarterback and wide receiver at Kentucky and was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders and then traded to the Miami Dolphins where he has been used primarily as a wide receiver along with the ability to be used as a "utility player" as well.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Nespor, Cody (December 17, 2019). "WVU's Derek Culver Has Grown from Youngstown Roots". WV Sports Now. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ Baniecki, Jory (January 21, 2017). "Warren Harding's Derek Culver removed from team, out for season". WYTV. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ "WVU hoops prospect Derek Culver heading to Brewster Academy". Charleston Gazette-Mail. August 26, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Derek Culver". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ White, Dustin (August 2, 2016). "WVU Basketball Picks Up Commitment From Four Star Forward Derek Culver". The Smoking Musket. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ Vargo, John (December 23, 2019). "Culver starting to come into his own for WVU". The Vindicator. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  7. ↑ Antonik, John (February 5, 2019). "Culver Nets 23 in a Road Loss at Texas Tech". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ "West Virginia upsets TCU 104-96 in 3OT thriller". ESPN. Associated Press. February 26, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  9. ↑ Taylor, Sean (February 26, 2019). "Mountaineer Freshman Duo Comes Up Big in Triple OT Thriller, Places TCU Squarely on the Bubble". Mountaineer Sports. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  10. ↑ Messerly, Bryan (October 18, 2019). "Culver Named to Kareem Abdul Jabbar Award Watch List". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  11. ↑ Digby, Matthew (December 1, 2019). "Culver dominates as WVU beats Rhode Island". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  12. ↑ Bragg, Tom (February 3, 2020). "Bob Huggins helps mold Derek Culver's game for the next level". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  13. ↑ Nespor, Cody (February 19, 2020). "Starting or sitting, Derek Culver just wants to win". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  14. ↑ Anderson, Chris (April 26, 2021). "Derek Culver addresses Monday's news, makes final decision on future". 247Sports. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  15. ↑ Adams, Luke (October 16, 2021). "Pacers Release Three Players". HoopsRumors. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  16. ↑ Cohn, Justin (October 24, 2021). "North Side grad on Mad Ants' roster". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  17. ↑ Cohn, Justin (November 2, 2021). "Ants waive North Side grad Crews, 3 others". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  18. ↑ "2021-22 NBA G League transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Blue Coats Announce Opening Night Roster". oursportscentral.com. November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  20. ↑ "2022-2023 Delaware Blue Coats Transactions History". RealGM.com. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  21. ↑ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  22. ↑ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  23. ↑ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  24. ↑ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  25. ↑ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  26. ↑ Levick, Noah (April 7, 2023). "Delaware Blue Coats win G League championship; Jaden Springer named Finals MVP". NBCSports.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  27. ↑ Delaware Blue Coats [@blue_coats] (October 29, 2023). "time for camp.🏕️ #GetYourCoatsOn" (Tweet). Retrieved January 1, 2024 – via Twitter.
  28. ↑ Delaware Blue Coats [@blue_coats] (December 27, 2023). "OFFICIAL: The Blue Coats have signed Javonte Smart and activated two-way player Kenneth Lofton Jr. In a related move, the team has waived Derek Culver" (Tweet). Retrieved January 1, 2024 – via Twitter.
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