I had not seen Grider in over a year since he was at our Freshman camp last fall. Noticeably taller than this time last year, Derez showed he can get into the paint and is a very crafty finisher around the bucket.

Derez is a sleeper prospect in the 2029 class that’s been high on my radar for a while now. He has the IQ, ball handling, and playmaking abilities to become a scholarship level player when his time comes. He was one of just two freshmen to make St.X’s state finalist roster last season. Heading into his sophomore campaign, he’ll be out to prove that he can contribute in a significant capacity, thus expect a high motor from him at the KY Expo.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Derez hoop in person, but he did not disappoint. The two-way combo guard showcased the most complete game of anyone on a KY Ambition 15U team that features several future college players. He has a profound understanding of angles when finishing around the rim. He kissed the ball sky high off the glass on several occasions at a level of comfortability that’s beyond his years. He also showcased his court vision and made several tough passes to find open teammates, including a full court dime that led to a corner 3PT field goal. Derez’s contributions on the other side of the ball, however, set him apart. At one point he made up for a turnover with a full out sprint to stop the fast break followed by a block on the shot attempt. He also used intense ball pressure to rack up steals at the top of the key which led to easy one-man fast break opportunities.

Derez’s motor and love for the game stands out every time he touches the court. He’s a monster going downhill, using an advanced level of speed and ball handling skills to blow past defenders. He’s also very good at finishing through contact despite his size. Derez will most likely be running the show Ambition’s 15U squad, which he’s more than capable of doing. Coming off of an appearance in the state title game with St. Xavier, expect Derez to bring leadership and poise this travel ball season.

Derez was one of the more fundamentally sound guards at our event. He had multiple tough finishes in traffic among taller defenders. He is a guard that did not get sped up which is rare to see with guards his age. I thought he was very smooth in transition and did not force any shots, truly looked to get others involved first. Saint Xavier has yet another solid piece in their 2029 class.