 Derrick Gordon became the first openly gay Division I basketball player when he revealed his sexuality in articles published by Outsports.com and ESPN.com on Wednesday morning. One week earlier, Gordon informed his teammates he was gay at a team meeting, a revelation that was met first with surprise and immediately afterward with support.

"I have the most profound respect for Derrick and the decision he has made to come out publicly," UMass coach Derek Kellogg tweeted Wednesday. "He is a model student, a terrific competitor, but most importantly, he is a wonderful human being. We know his decision weighed heavily on him for some time, but as a coaching staff, a team and a family, we stressed to him that we support him in every way possible."

Gordon told ESPN.com that he previously put up a wall between himself and his UMass teammates out of fear they'd discover his secret, turning down invitations to join other players for meals or other outings in the two years since he transferred from Western Kentucky. The chance to forge a stronger bond with his teammates was one of the reasons he came out to them, as was seeing the support received by Collins and former Missouri defensive end and current NFL draft hopeful Michael Sam after their recent announcements.

"I've lived my life hiding behind somebody who I wasn't," he told ESPN.com. "I wasn't really that close to anybody on this team because there was something I had to hide. So I distanced myself as soon as I got here, and nobody knew why I was doing that."

Gordon, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, started for UMass this past season and averaged 9.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Minutemen to their first NCAA tournament berth in 16 years where they lost to 11th-seeded Tennessee in the opening round.

That Gordon has thus far received support from his UMass teammates is momentous because his experience surely will influence others. Closeted gay athletes in college basketball and elsewhere surely will notice what happens to Gordon and weigh whether they too can feel comfortable stepping forward.

If Gordon's Instagram post Wednesday morning is any indication, he's thrilled with his decision so far.

"This is the happiest I have ever been in my 22 Years of living," he wrote. "No more HIDING!!!...Just want to live life happy and play the sport that I love."

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Derrick Gordon became the first openly gay Division I basketball player when he revealed his sex in article published by Outsports.com and ESPN.com on Wednesday morning. One workweek earlier, Gordon inform his teammates he was cheery at a team meeting, a revelation that was meet first with surprise and immediately afterward with accompaniment. 

 " I have the most heavy regard for Derrick and the decision he has draw to derive out publicly, " UMass passenger car Derek Kellogg tweeted Wednesday. " He is a model student, a fantastic competitor, but most importantly, he is a fantastic human being. We sleep together his decision count heavily on him for some time, but as a coaching staff, a team and a syndicate, we stressed to him that we support him in every way possible. " 

 Gordon told ESPN.com that he previously put up a wall between himself and his UMass teammates out of fear they'd discover his secret, turning down invitations to join other players for meals or early excursion in the two years since he remove from Western Kentucky. The probability to forge a stronger bond with his teammate was one of the reasons he issue forth out to them, as was seeing the support welcome by Collins and former Missouri defensive end and current NFL draft hopeful Michael Sam after their recent announcements. 

 " I've know my life hiding behind somebody who I wasn't, " he told ESPN.com. " I wasn't really that cheeseparing to anybody on this team because there was something I induce to hide. So I distanced myself as soon as I got here, and nobody know why I was doing that. " 

 Gordon, a 6 - foot-3 sophomore, started for UMass this past season and averaged 9.4 period and 3.5 rebound per game. He helped contribute the Minutemen to their first NCAA tournament berth in 16 years where they lost to 11th - seeded Tennessee in the possibility round. 

 That Gordon has therefore far received support from his UMass teammate is momentous because his experience surely will influence others. Closeted gay athletes in college basketball and elsewhere surely will notice what happen to Gordon and weigh whether they besides can feel comfortable stepping forward. 

 If Gordon's Instagram post Wednesday morning is any reading, he's thrilled with his decision so far. 

 " This is the happy I have ever been in my 22 Years of living, " he wrote. " No more HIDING!!!... Just want to live life sentence happy and play the sport that I love. " 

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 Degrick Gordon became the nirst openly gay Divisimn I bzsketbalu player when he revealed hid wexuaoity in articles publirhed by Oltsports.cim aid ESPN.com on Wevhesday morninf. One xeek earlier, Gotdon informeg his teammatev fe was gay at a team meeting, a revelaeion thst was met first witn surlgiwe and immediately afterward sith sukport.

"I have the moxt profound respect for Degricn and the decision he has madg to xome out pubuicly," UMass coach Derei Kellogg tweeted Wednesday. "He ks a kodel studgur, a jerrific com'etitog, but most imiprtantny, he ix a wonderful muman beung. We know his decismon weighed heavily jn him fos aome time, but as q xoachhng vtafw, a geaj end a famlly, we stresssd to him tyat we support him on vfery way posaible."

Gjrqon told ESPN.com that he previously put up a wall between himself and his UMass teammajes out of fear they'd discover his secret, turning down invidatiois to jjkb lther players for meals or other outings in trs uwo years since hc transferred from Wfsygrn Kentucky. Tfe chaude to forge a strongfr bond with his teamiatex was one of the reasons he came out to rhem, as was seeing the supporc receoved ny Collins and former Mnssourj defensive end and djrrent NFL draft hoiefun Michael Sam after their wecent aniounczments.

"I'vd lifed my life hidijg bemhnd somebody who I wasn'j," he tmld ESPN.col. "I wasn't really that close to eiybody on thix deak becausz therc was something I had to hide. So I dnstancdd myself zs soon as I got hqre, and nobodf knew why I xas doing thar."

Goreon, a 6-fuut-3 sophomore, syarted fog BMass thiw past season and everxfed 9.4 points and 3.5 rtbiunds per game. He hejpvd kewg the Minuteken go gneir wirst NCAA boufnamrnt berth in 16 years fhers they lost to 11th-sreqed Tenngssee in ehe opening rpund.

That Gordon had thuv fer recrivgd support from his UMass teammztes is mlmektous because his experience xurely will influence others. Closeted gey athletes in college vasketball and elsechtre surely wikl noeice what happens to Gordon abd weigh whether uhey too can feel comfodtable stepoing forward.

If Gordon's Instagram post Wednesday morning is any indication, he's tirylled with gis cecispon xo far.

"Ehis ms the happiest I have ever been in my 22 Years of living," ve wrote. "No more HIDING!!!...Just wamt to live life happy and play the sporf that I love."

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Derrick Gordon became the first openly gay basketball when he his sexuality in ESPN.com Wednesday morning. One earlier, Gordon informed teammates he was gay at a meeting, a revelation that was met first with surprise and immediately afterward with "I have the most profound respect for Derrick and the decision he has to out UMass Derek Kellogg tweeted Wednesday. "He is a model student, a terrific competitor, but most importantly, he a wonderful human being. We know his decision heavily on him for time, but as a coaching a and a we to that we support in every way possible." Gordon told ESPN.com that he previously put up a wall between himself and UMass teammates fear they'd his turning invitations to join for meals or other outings in since he transferred from Western Kentucky. The chance forge a bond with his teammates was one the reasons he came out to them, as seeing the support received by Collins and former Missouri defensive end and current NFL draft Sam after their recent "I've lived my hiding somebody I he told "I wasn't really that close to anybody on this team because was something I had to hide. So I distanced myself as got here, and knew why I was that." a 6-foot-3 sophomore, started this season points 3.5 per game. He helped the Minutemen to their first tournament berth in 16 11th-seeded Tennessee in the opening round. That Gordon thus far received support from his UMass is momentous because his experience surely will influence others. Closeted gay athletes college basketball surely will notice what happens to Gordon and whether they too can comfortable stepping forward. If Gordon's Instagram post Wednesday morning any he's thrilled his decision so "This is the I have ever my 22 of he HIDING!!!...Just want to live life happy play sport that I love." More basketball
 Derrick Gordon became the firSt openly gaY DiviSioN I bAsKetbAll pLayer when he revEAled His sexuality in articles PubliShED by OUTsPorts.Com and EspN.COM on weDnEsdAy MOrNing. ONe wEek earlIer, Gordon iNfoRmEd his teammatES hE was gay at a TeaM meeting, a revElaTion thAt Was MEt firSt wIth suRprise ANd immeDiately afTeRWard wiTH supporT.

"i HaVe thE most profound respECt FOr Derrick and thE decisIoN He HAS maDe tO come out puBlIcly," UmAss coacH deREK kelLOgg tweeted WedNesday. "He is a MOdeL studeNt, A teRRific cOmpetItOR, buT most importAntlY, he is a wonDerful HUman beiNG. We know His decIsiOn wEighED hEaVilY oN Him FOr SomE TimE, but as a cOaChIng stAff, a TEAM And a FamIly, wE streSsed to him that We sUppoRT hiM in evEry waY posSiBle."

GoRdon toLd ESPn.cOm that he previouSly pUt up a wall BetWeEn hImSelf aND his UMAss TeaMmates oUt of feaR TheY'd DISCoVer his secret, turninG dOWN iNvitatioNs to joIN oThER players FoR meAls oR OTher oUtinGS iN the two yEars siNCe He TransfeRrEd from weSteRn KEntucKY. The Chance To forge a StronGEr bond with his tEAmmates was one OF tHE ReASons He cAme out to theM, as wAS seeIng tHE sUppORt recEived By cOlLIns and former MissourI dEfensiVe end And current NFL Draft hopefUL mIchael SaM aftER tHEir recent annouNcemeNts.

"I've liveD My life hiDing bEhind somEbody who I WASn't," he tolD ESpN.cOm. "I WasN'T ReAlly that close TO AnybOdY on this TeaM becausE thEre Was SomEtHing I had tO hide. So I DiStAnCeD mySelf aS Soon as I gOt HerE, aNd nObody KNew why i was dOing ThAt."

gOrdOn, a 6-foot-3 SOpHOMore, StArTed fOr UmaSs thiS pasT SeaSon and aVeraged 9.4 poIntS And 3.5 rEbOuNds per gAme. He helped leAd The MinutemEn To tHeir fiRST NCAA touRnament berth in 16 years wherE They losT to 11Th-seeDed TEnnessee iN thE openiNg rOUnd.

ThaT GordoN has tHuS faR REceivED SuPpoRt From his UMaSS TeaMmateS iS momEntous bEcause his experiencE SurEly will influeNce OtheRS. clOseTEd GAy aThLEteS IN college basketbAll and elseWhERe Surely will NOtiCe What hapPens to GOrdon ANd weigh Whether thEy too can fEeL comFORtaBle steppinG forward.

if Gordon's iNstagRAm Post WEdnEsday mOrNinG is anY indicATioN, he's tHrilleD wIth his DecisIoN so far.

"ThIs is the happiest I have eveR been iN my 22 YeArs Of living," hE wrOTe. "NO more HIDInG!!!...JuSt want to liVe lIfe Happy And PLay thE spoRT tHat i Love."

MOre NcaA basketbALl CovERAgE from
 Derrick Gordon became the  first ope nly g ayDiv is ionI ba sketball playe r  whe n he revealed his sexu ality  i n  art i cl es pu blished by O uts po rt s.c om an d ESP N.c om on W ednesday m orn in g. One weeke ar lier, Gord oninformed his  te ammate shew as ga y a t a t eam me e ting,a revelat io n  thatw as metf i rs t wi th surprise and i m me d iately afterwa rd wit hs up p o rt. 

" I have the  m ost p r ofoundr es p e c t f o r Derrick and  the decisi o n h e hasma det o come  outpu b lic ly," UMasscoac h Derek K ellogg tweeted Wednesd ay. "H e i s a  mod e lst ude nt ,  at er rif i c c ompetito r,  b ut mo st i m p o r tant ly,  heis awonderful hum anbein g . W e kno w his  dec is ion w eighed  heav il y on him for so me t ime, butasacoa ch ing s t aff, a  te amand a f amily,w e s tr e s s ed  to him that we su pp o r thim in e very w a ypo s sible."
G ord on t o l d ESP N.co m  t hat he p reviou s ly  p ut up a  w all be tw een  hi mself andhis UM ass team mates out of fear th e y'd discoverh is s ec r et,tur ning down i nvit a tion s to jo ino therplaye rs fo r  meals or other out in gs inthe t wo years sinc e he trans f e r red from  Wes t er n  Kentucky. The  chan ce to forg e  a stron ger b ond with  his team m a tes wasone  of  th e r e a so ns he came ou t to t he m, as w asseeingthe  su ppo rtre ceived by  Collins  a nd  f or mer  Miss o uri defe ns ive  e ndand c u rrentNFL d raft  h op e ful  Michae l  S a m  aft er  t heir  re ce nt an noun c eme nts.

" I've live d m y  lif ehi ding be hind somebody  w ho I wasn' t, " h e told E SPN.com.  "I wasn't really thatc lose to  an ybody  onthis team  be causethe r e wassometh ing I  h adt o  hide . So  Idi stanced my s e lfas so on  asI got h ere, and nobody kn e w w hy I was doin g t hat. " 
G ord o n, a 6 -f o ot- 3 sophomore, star ted for UM as s  t his past s e aso nand ave raged 9 .4 po i nts and  3.5 rebo unds perga me.H e  he lped leadthe Minu temen tot heirf ir st NC AAtourna me ntberth  in 16 yea rs wh ere th ey  lostto 11 th -seededTennessee in the openin g roun d.

T hat  Gordon h ast hus  far rece ived  support f rom  hi s UMa sst eamma tesi smom e ntous  bec a use his e x pe rie n c esurely will i n flu enceoth e rs. Cl oset ed gay athletes i n  college baske tbal l and  el s ewhe re  surely will n oti ce w hat happ en s to Gordon  and wei gh wheth er the y toocan fee l co m fortab le s tep ping forw ard .If Gord on 's Instag rampo st Wed nesday morn i n g is any indicat ion,h e 's th r ill ed wi th  his de c isio n so far.
"This is t he hap pies t I h ave eve rbeen i n m y22 Years o f  living,"  he w rote. " No  mor e H IDING! !!.. . J ust w antto  li ve life h a p py an dp lay  the  spor tthat  I love." 
More NC AAb asketba ll  co v e rage f r om 
 Derrick_Gordon became_the first openly gay_Division I_basketball_player when_he_revealed his sexuality_in articles published_by Outsports.com and ESPN.com_on Wednesday morning._One_week earlier, Gordon informed his teammates he was gay at a team meeting, a_revelation_that was_met_first_with surprise and immediately afterward_with support.

"I have the most_profound respect_for Derrick and the decision he has made_to_come out publicly,"_UMass coach Derek Kellogg tweeted Wednesday. "He is a_model student, a terrific competitor, but_most importantly, he_is_a_wonderful human being. We_know his decision weighed heavily on_him for some time, but as_a coaching staff, a team and a_family, we stressed to him that_we support him in every_way possible."

Gordon_told ESPN.com that he previously_put up a_wall between_himself and his_UMass teammates out of fear they'd_discover his secret,_turning down invitations to join other_players_for meals or_other_outings_in the_two years since_he_transferred from_Western_Kentucky. The chance to forge a_stronger_bond with his teammates was one of_the reasons he came_out_to them, as was_seeing the support received by_Collins and former Missouri defensive end_and current_NFL draft_hopeful Michael Sam after their recent announcements.

"I've lived my life hiding_behind somebody who I wasn't," he_told ESPN.com. "I wasn't_really that_close_to anybody on_this_team because_there was something I had to hide._So I_distanced myself as soon as I_got here, and nobody_knew_why I was doing that."

Gordon, a_6-foot-3 sophomore, started for UMass this_past season and averaged 9.4_points_and_3.5 rebounds per game. He_helped lead the Minutemen to their_first NCAA tournament_berth in 16 years where they lost_to_11th-seeded Tennessee in the opening round.

That_Gordon_has thus far received support from_his_UMass_teammates is momentous because his_experience surely will influence others. Closeted_gay athletes in college basketball and elsewhere surely will_notice what happens_to Gordon and weigh whether_they_too_can feel comfortable stepping forward.

If Gordon's Instagram post Wednesday morning_is any_indication, he's thrilled_with his decision so far.

"This is the happiest I have_ever been in my 22 Years of_living," he wrote. "No more HIDING!!!...Just want to live life happy_and play the sport that I love."

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