Indonesian basketball player Derrick Michael Xzavierro signs with GCU

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Indonesian basketball player Derrick Michael Xzavierro, who is part of the NBA Global Academy, announced on social media that he has signed to play college basketball at Grand Canyon University.

The 6-foot-9 forward will be the first Indonesian basketball player to play in NCAA Division I next season. Its wingspan is 7 feet 1 1/2 inches.

“Derrick is going to be a fantastic addition to our basketball program and our campus,” GCU head coach Bryce Drew said in a school statement. “He embodies what we look for in a student-athlete. He has high character and great basketball ability. He excels in his studies and has faith in God.”

Xzavierro attended the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia. He was the first Indonesian player to join an NBA development academy last year. The academy works with school-aged players from outside the United States.

He is considered the best prospect to ever come out of Indonesia. Xzavierro attended the Jr. NBA in Jakarta, before moving to Australia last year to compete against top high school players in a more intense environment.

The NBA Academy program includes academies in Australia, India, Mexico and Senegal.

Since December 19, Xzavierro, pronounced ex-ZAH-vee-eh-ro, has appeared in NBA Academy exhibition games at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, and at the Tarkanian Classic itself; and at the National Prep School Invitational at Rhode Island College, where he was named to the 2022 #PSI All-Tournament Team.

The NBA Academy has produced more than 70 NCAA Division I players and NBA player Josh Giddey, Australia, from the Oklahoma Thunder.

Santiago Vescovi of Uruguay is a Latino NBA Academy alumnus who made the All-SEC first team at Tennessee last college season.

Cameron’s Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua became the first NBA Academy alumnus to play on an NCAA championship team at Baylor last year. Tchatchoua was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this season.

Xzavierro fulfills a purse that opened with the 6-10 transfer of Dima Zdor to UT Rio Grande Valley.

The Antelopes have another purse available with the transfer of guard Liam Lloyd to northern Arizona.

To suggest ideas for human interest stories and other news, contact Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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