Hall of Fame
Derek Thurston - Rollins College, Basketball
Thurston fit the basketball player mold that most coaches dream about. Not only did he know how to play the game and put up great numbers, Thurston knew how to win. As the leader of the Rollins College men’s basketball team in the early 1990’s, Thurston’s presence in the lineup made his teammates better and sparked them to the most wins ever compiled by a Rollins men’s basketball team over a four-year period. An Indiana schoolboy star, Thurston developed into one of the most well-rounded players ever to don the Rollins blue and gold. Ranking among the Rollins career leaders in several categories, Thurston is the Tars’ career leader with 458 assists, while ranking sixth in school history with 1,627 points, and fourth with 155 steals. During his four seasons at Rollins, Thurston led his team to a pair of Sunshine State Conference regular season championships in 1990-91 and 1991-92 as well as an SSC Tournament crown in 1991-92. With Thurston on the court, the Tars compiled a four-year record of 82-32, never failing to win at least 19 games each of those four seasons. With an NCAA Tournament appearance 1991-92, Rollins would earn a spot in NCAA postseason play for the first time in 13 years. As the Tars’ floor general, Thurston was a major reason behind the most successful period in school history and was certainly recognized for his contribution throughout his collegiate career. Thurston was an All-SSC selection all four years at Rollins, earning honorable mention as a freshman, second team honors as a sophomore and first team honors as a junior and senior. On the regional and national levels, Thurston was highly decorated. Thurston was a two-time first team All-South Region selection his junior and senior years. As a junior, Thurston won honorable mention All-America recognition as a junior and was a second-team All-America pick by the NABC as a senior. The Rollins Male Athlete of the Year in 1992, Thurston was also honored by the Sunshine State Conference as Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year for 1991-92. Currently a sales representative for Lipman Brothers in Hendersonville, Tennessee, Thurston continues to be the ultimate team player in his community. A member of the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, Thurston is quite active as a volunteer coach and mentor for Hendersonville’s Little League and Youth Basketball programs.