Standing at 7’ 1", and 230 pounds, Derek Lively is a serious threat at the center position for the Blue Devils. No defender wants to guard Lively, as his size and athleticism make for a dangerous combination on the court. After sustaining a calf injury, his highly anticipated freshman campaign was put on hold. Lively’s long awaited debut came on November 11, 2022, against USC Upstate. He logged 14 minutes while scoring four points, along with two blocks and two rebounds. It was no surprise that his four points came from two big time dunks for the Blue Devils. USC Upstate was hungry for the upset as they took an early lead, but Lively’s first dunk tied the game while his second dunk took the lead. Lively would win his first game suiting up as a Blue Devil as they defeated USC Upstate 84-38.  

This Nike Duke basketball is autographed by Dereck Lively with a silver paint pen. Lively’s signature was witnessed by an Upper Deck representative as part of UDA’s 5-step authentication process.