# Derek Needham > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Derek_Needham > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Derek_Needham.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Needham > Source revision: 1317708733 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Derek Ryan Needham** (born October 20, 1990) is an American-born naturalized [Montenegrin](/source/Montenegrins) professional [basketball](/source/Basketball) player for [Bàsquet Girona](/source/B%C3%A0squet_Girona) of the [Liga ACB](/source/Liga_ACB). Standing at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), he plays the [point guard](/source/Point_guard) position. Needham played college basketball for [Fairfield University](/source/Fairfield_Stags_men's_basketball) where he was named to the CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-America team in 2010 and was All-[MAAC](/source/Metro_Atlantic_Athletic_Conference) for four straight years between 2010 and 2013.[1] Since 2017, Needham represents the senior [Montenegrin national basketball team](/source/Montenegro_national_basketball_team) in international competitions. ## Player career ### High school Needham is a native of [Dolton, Illinois](/source/Dolton,_Illinois) and attended the [De La Salle Institute](/source/De_La_Salle_Institute) in [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago,_Illinois). During his senior season in 2009, Needham helped the [Meteors](/source/De_La_Salle_Institute) basketball team reach the Class 4A sectional final while earning All-[Chicago Catholic League](/source/Chicago_Catholic_League) and All-State second team honors. Needham also received the [George Eastman](/source/George_Eastman) Young Leaders Award and was named to the [Chicago Catholic League](/source/Chicago_Catholic_League) All-Academic team.[1] ### College career Needham played college basketball for [Fairfield University](/source/Fairfield_University) in [Fairfield, Connecticut](/source/Fairfield,_Connecticut) from 2010 to 2013. During his freshman season with the [Fairfield Stags](/source/Fairfield_Stags_men's_basketball), Needham earned [MAAC](/source/Metro_Atlantic_Athletic_Conference) Rookie of the Year after receiving a then league record 10 Rookie of the Week awards and setting Fairfield freshman records with 543 points and 172 assists. He was also named to the [CollegeInsider.com](/source/CollegeInsider.com) Freshman All-America team.[2] Needham is third on the all-time scoring list at Fairfield, with 1,875 points and 535 assists. He set a new record for three-pointers in a season, with 74 in his senior year. He earned All-[MAAC](/source/Metro_Atlantic_Athletic_Conference) honors during all four seasons, and earned spots on the [NABC Division I All-District 1](/source/National_Association_of_Basketball_Coaches), All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) and [All-Jesuit](/source/Association_of_Jesuit_Colleges_and_Universities) teams.[1] ### Professional career During the 2013–2014 season, Needham played for [BC Šiauliai](/source/BC_%C5%A0iauliai) in the [Lithuanian Basketball League](/source/Lithuanian_Basketball_League) and [Baltic Basketball League](/source/Baltic_Basketball_League).[3] During the 2014–2015 season, Needham led [BC Khimik](/source/BC_Khimik) to a perfect 36–0 season and the [Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague](/source/Ukrainian_Basketball_SuperLeague) championship. He was named the most valuable player of the championship.[4] During the 2015–2016 season, Needham first played for [Basketball Löwen Braunschweig](/source/Basketball_L%C3%B6wen_Braunschweig) in the [Basketball Bundesliga](/source/Basketball_Bundesliga) and then joined [Pallacanestro Reggiana](/source/Pallacanestro_Reggiana) in the [Lega Basket Serie A](/source/Lega_Basket_Serie_A). He helped lead [Pallacanestro Reggiana](/source/Pallacanestro_Reggiana) to the [Lega Basket Serie A](/source/Lega_Basket_Serie_A) championship game where he competed against his former [Fairfield Stags](/source/Fairfield_Stags_men's_basketball) teammate [Rakim Sanders](/source/Rakim_Sanders) of [Olimpia Milano](/source/Olimpia_Milano).[5] On July 12, 2017, Needham signed with Montenegrin club [Mornar](/source/KK_Mornar_Bar).[6] Following the 2017–2018 season, EuroBasket.com named Needham to its FIBA All-Imports team after finishing 5th in scoring (17.2 ppg) and leading [Mornar](/source/KK_Mornar_Bar) to the quarterfinals of [2017–18 FIBA Europe Cup Play-offs](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_FIBA_Europe_Cup_Play-offs). On June 30, 2021, he has signed with [Frutti Extra Bursaspor](/source/Bursaspor_Basketbol) of the [Basketbol Süper Ligi](/source/Basketbol_S%C3%BCper_Ligi).[7] On June 29, 2023, he signed with [Beşiktaş](/source/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K._(men's_basketball)) of the [Basketbol Süper Ligi](/source/Basketbol_S%C3%BCper_Ligi).[8] On July 8, 2025, he signed with [Bàsquet Girona](/source/B%C3%A0squet_Girona) of the [Liga ACB](/source/Liga_ACB).[9] ### International career Needham is a citizen of [Montenegro](/source/Montenegro) and is a member of the [Montenegro national team](/source/Montenegro_national_basketball_team) since 2017.[10] He was part of the Montenegro team that qualified for the [2019 FIBA World Cup](/source/2019_FIBA_World_Cup). ## References 1. ["Fairfield Stags: Derek Needham Bio"](http://www.fairfieldstags.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32500&ATCLID=209367409). *FairfieldStags.com*. FairfieldStags.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016. 1. ["Rookie of the Year: Derek Needham"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpqDLGjw7ck). *Fairfield Stags*. YouTube. Retrieved July 22, 2016. 1. ["BBL TV: Derek Needham"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFZnVPGwcok). *BBL TV*. BBL TV. Retrieved July 22, 2016. 1. ["Derek Needham 2014-15 Season Highlights"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzOgEzL3Ves). *Krepsinio Analizes*. Krepsinio Analizes. Retrieved July 22, 2016. 1. ["Sanders, Needham Meet In Italian League Championship"](http://www.fairfieldstags.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32500&ATCLID=211000726). *FairfieldStags.com*. FairfieldStags.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016. 1. [Derek Needham inks with KK Mornar Bar](http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/montenegro/240922/derek-needham-inks-with-kk-mornar-bar.html) 1. ["Bursaspor, Karadağ Milli Takımının Oyun Kurucusu ile Anlaştı"](https://basketservisi.com/2021/06/30/resmi-bursaspor-karadag-milli-takiminin-oyun-kurucusu-ile-anlasti-analiz/) (in Turkish). *basketservisi.com*. June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021. 1. ["Derek Needham Beşiktaş’ta"](https://bjk.com.tr/tr/haber/86486/derek-needham-besiktasta.html) (in Turkish). [Beşiktaş](/source/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9F_J.K.). June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023. 1. ["Derek Needham, nou jugador del Bàsquet Girona"](https://basquetgirona.com/noticia/derek-needham-nou-jugador-del-basquet-girona/) (in Catalan). *basquetgirona.com*. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025. 1. ["Derek Needham will be the new point guard of Montenegro National Team"](http://www.eurobasket.com/Montenegro/news/451941/Derek-Needham-will-be-the-new-point-guard-of-Montenegro-National-Team). *EuroBasket.com*. EuroBasket.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016. ## External links - [Derek Needham](http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Derek-Needham/Italy/Grissin-Bon-Reggio-Emilia/187579) at eurobasket.com - [Derek Needham](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924203926/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6101456/playerview.html) at fiba.com --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Derek Needham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Needham) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Needham?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.