Over the years, LaBrae basketball has produced a number of great players from the program — Payton Aldridge, Tyler Stephens, Keith Gunther and Todd Rowe to name a few.

Now, Derek Wilson will join those who came before him and continue his athletic career at the next level.

Earlier this week, Wilson announced his commitment to Wheeling University to continue playing basketball for the Cardinals.

“There’s some great athletes that came out of LaBrae,” Wilson said. “Payton (Aldridge) and Tyler (Stephens) and all those guys. I mean, it’s great to just join that company.”

Committing to Wheeling caps off a senior season to remember for Wilson. The Viking star recorded his 1,000th career point in January, then soon followed it after with his 1,000th point just with LaBrae. He was also named all-Ohio second team, all-Northeast Inland District first team and was the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

The Vikings also finished as district runners up after a down to the wire battle with Campbell in the district championship game.

That tournament run is going to be what Wilson remembers most about his time at LaBrae.

“Everyone was at practice and everyone was working as hard as we possibly could,” he said. “We wanted to keep playing as long as we could. And the student section at our first two home games for the playoffs, it was really just a great environment. Everyone had energy, and it was just probably the most fun I had playing the game.”

Now, Wilson’s basketball journey sends him to West Virginia’s northern panhandle. After spending some time on campus, it was an easy decision for the future Cardinal.

“They really just made me feel like I was a part of the team as soon as I got on my campus, even when they hadn’t even offered me a scholarship yet or anything,” Wilson said. “It was really just like the coaches made me feel like I belonged. They like the way that I play right now, but they think they can develop me more when I get there, and just turn me into a different type of basketball player, and just help me be the best version of me.”

With a very solid skillset already, Wilson hopes he can maximize that when he reaches the next level.

“I can score at all three levels. I can get to the rim, shoot mid-range and shoot outside as well,” Wilson said while describing his game. “I can also just play really solid defense as well and just help my teammates make the right plays and have a high IQ for the game.”

Wilson watches some of the sport’s best and has taken from their games to influence his own.

“I would say my favorite basketball player to watch all time is easily Michael Jordan. I really just like watching him and studying his game,” Wilson said. “Right now, I really like to watch Anthony Edwards and just how we can just attack and shoot and do everything on the court.”

While his time at LaBrae is coming to a close, Wilson is grateful for the people who brought him in after moving into the district from Lordstown. Moving is a tough transition for a kid, and his teammates were a great help in making it easier.

“I’m thankful for all my teammates and my coaches who helped me along the way,” he said. “I mean, moving schools and stuff, my teammates really helped me feel accepted at my school, and it really helped me settle in. It helped me make more friendships outside of basketball with them, and just made a lot of memories with them.”