Senior Spotlight: Derrick Akers

Senior Spotlight: Derrick Akers — Hannan High School

by Delyssa Huffman Gallipolis Daily Tribune
10.27.10 - 09:31 pm

ASHTON — It’s nothing but the net for Derrick Akers, a member of the Class of 2011 at Hannan High School.

A basketball fan and player his whole life, Akers is looking forward to making the most of his final year, especially during this year’s season.

Having played on the Varsity team since his freshman year, Akers said he values everything about the sport.

“I like getting to play with my friends and working as a team. It also gives me something to do.”

Akers, a highly decorated player in the small forward position, was selected for the All-Tournament Basketball Award last year. He also will be one of the co-captain’s this year.

For Akers, basketball has been more than a sport.

“Not only did I become a better player throughout the years, but basketball really taught me to learn how to not get down when we were losing. By being on a team, I’ve learned to work losing situations out and play to the fullest.”

The Wildcats played their best record during Akers first year on the team, but with practice beginning in November, this senior already has goals of averaging 12-15 points per game.

While this is his last year as a Wildcat, Akers has hopes of playing college ball.

“I will definitely miss playing with my teammates,” he said. “Some of us have been together since elementary school. But it would be nice to continue to play.”

Akers will be attending Marshall University next fall to major in criminal justice. He said he wants to get a degree first, then attend a policy academy. He said that maybe later on, he might even try being on a S.W.A.T. team.

“I have a friend who went to the police academy and he really liked it,” Akers said. “And I have always wanted to be a cop, so I plan to get my degree and see where that leads me.”

Akers also said he chose Marshall because it’s close to home.

“My parents have always inspired me to get a good education, and to be a good person, and my future ambition is to accomplish that, have a nice job and live a healthy life.”

Also at HHS, Akers was involved in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and National Honor Society (NHS) during his sophomore-junior year. He said he really enjoyed helping out in community projects with both, especially planting memorial trees at the school as part of FFA. He additionally takes college-credit courses.

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