Derrick Gordon, who plays for the University of Massachusetts as a guard, has come out as the first openly gay player in Division I men's basketball, according to the Associated Press.
Gordon made the announcement in interviews with ESPN and Outsports on Wednesday and said he gained confidence by seeing an NBA team sign Jason Collins, who became the league's first openly gay player when he joined the Brooklyn Nets this season, the AP reported.
"Right now I'm happy. I'm free just to live my life," Gordon told the AP, adding that he "was living life in shame."
The sophomore was the Minutemen's fourth-leading scorer with 9.4 points per game last season and led the team to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998 and lost in its first game to Tennessee, according to the AP.
Gordon said he told his parents he was gay March 30, informed UMass coach Derek Kellogg the next day and told his teammates two days later, which was last Wednesday, the AP reported. He said some of them probably have known since last summer.
"They could sense it because I kind of separated myself from the team," Gordon said, according to the AP. "I didn't really hang out with them as far as going to parties and stuff. I really kind of kept to myself, kept quiet. We went on road trips - I'd sit by myself and they were always wondering why. I did it because I didn't want to put myself in a situation where maybe something happens and they end up finding out. Then what? I'm not going to know how to handle the situation."
Center Tyler Bergantino who roomed with Gordon as freshmen said he, and no one else, should have a problem with him being gay, the AP reported.
"The fact that he's gay doesn't change anything," Bergantino said, according to the the AP. "We didn't know he was gay before. We know he's gay now. But he's the exact same person."
Gordon held off making the announcement to keep from diverting attention from the NCAA tournaments, which ended Monday night for the men and Tuesday night for the women, the AP reported.
"I've been getting tons and tons of support," Gordon said told the AP. "I'm barely getting anything negative."
