The No. 3 Patterson boys basketball team opened its season with an 86-16 win over Maritime Academy on Tuesday and senior guard Dereck Oliver did his usual share with nine points and 11 assists in limited minutes.
It was the start of a season filled with high expectations for the Clippers captain. In his fourth season on varsity, Oliver is only 122 points from reaching 1,000. Oliver, a point guard who averaged 14 points and five assists last season, sees winning another state championship as his top priority.
In his freshman year, Oliver got quality playing time coming off the bench as former star Aquille Carr led Patterson to the state crown. After reaching the state semifinals last season, Oliver is the Clippers' only returning starter.
He welcomes the challenge of bringing the team together as the season progresses. Oliver hasn't decided where he will attend college, but he'd like to study sports psychology. He's a mentor at Glenmar Elementary School.
What's the most important part of being the point guard?
I'm the leader, so everyone follows what I say. We're building our chemistry every day. We just push each other every day in practice. We're very comfortable. We're ready.
How did you grow into the leadership position?
My freshman year, I learned a lot from Aquille [Carr]. [I was] like his understudy and seeing what he did every day in practice, and him pushing me and going at me every day — it just made me a better person and player on the court.
How challenging is the Baltimore City league?
It's tough each year. You don't really know what every school has. But I'm not worried about what teams may have. I'm just worried about us and what we're doing. We're going to take each game one by one.
What was it like winning the state title in your freshman year?
That was one of the best days of my life, winning that state championship with that team. I love every one of those guys on that team.
Do you see any similarities with this year's team and that one?
I see a lot of similarities. We've got the athleticism, and we're very intense on defense. We bring a lot of energy. Coach [Harry] Martin doesn't give us any breaks in practice; 32 minutes with our conditioning, getting in the weight room. Every day is something new and we're pushing.
What's it like having your father as an assistant coach?
My dad has been coaching me my whole life. He's the one that has been pushing me through everything — on the court and off the court. He's my motivator.
Do you have an example you can recall of how he pushes you?
I remember one day, I was chewing a piece of gum in practice and we were running plays and he told me: 'What are you doing, you're chewing gum harder than you're playing?' Every second he has something to say to me. And he always tells me if he's not saying anything, that's when I should worry about it. And then when he's not saying something, I ask him, 'Why aren't you saying anything to me?' He just gives me that look and says, 'You know why, because you're not doing your job.'"
You're on target to reach 1,000 career points. How will that feel?
It's going to be a good moment for me, but I'm not focused on it — I'm just trying to win. But when that moment comes, it's going to be a special day.
What is your message when you're mentoring the kids at the elementary school?
I just tell them the importance of coming up the right way and that it's school first. A lot of little kids think you can just play sports, but it has to be school first and get an education
How's it make you feel helping the kids and being a role model for them?
It makes me feel like a better person, giving back and doing what's right. I'm happy Coach Martin put us in the situation to help people do great things.
How have you maintained the balance to excel in school and basketball?
It's the people around me that motivate me to keep my grades up — my father, my mother, my brother, my sister. So I just make sure I'm on the right track. And Coach Martin, he makes sure we're on the right track for basketball. You have to keep your grades up.
What's the best advice you've received?
Probably when my mother told me, 'Don't do it for us, do it for yourself most of the time.' At the end of the day, you have to do what's right and make good decisions.