Rutgers transfer Derek Simpson is excited about playing for Saint Joseph's. (Photo: Derek Simpson IG)
By AARON BRACY
April 2, 2024
Big5Hoops.com
Derek Simpson said his relationship with Saint Joseph’s coach Billy Lange and the chance to play in Lange’s offensive system ultimately led him to choose the Hawks after entering the transfer portal following two seasons at Rutgers.
The Mount Laurel native and Lenape High School graduate will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
“I think the relationship I had in the past when I was getting recruited by them in high school, I think we built a great bond,” Simpson, a 6-foot-3 guard, told Big5Hoops by phone on Tuesday afternoon. “Just happened to go another way pretty much. I think St. Joe’s is a very family-like spot for me. I think the connection is real there. Felt like it was real love over there. I think it was the best option for me. I just love the way they play and attack.”
Simpson chose St. Joe’s over Delaware, Fordham, George Mason and George Washington.
“I had a conference I was looking at, and it was the A-10,” he said. “I knew where I wanted to go.”
Simpson started 25 of 32 games for the Scarlet Knights (15-17 overall, 7-13 Big Ten) this season, averaging 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals. He is grateful for the opportunity Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell gave him in Piscataway.
“Nothing but good experiences,” he said. “I can’t thank Rutgers Nation, Rutgers fans enough. I learned a lot about who I am as a person, who I am as a basketball player, how my mind works. These past two years have been nothing but good stuff for me. I’m just trying to bring all of the knowledge I’ve learned in the last two years in one of the best conferences in America and just trying to take it somewhere else and bring my knowledge to St. Joe’s. Just try to put it all together this upcoming year.”
Simpson was a key reserve as a freshman when the Scarlet Knights finished 19-15 overall and 10-10 in the league before taking on a larger role this season. He excelled on the free-throw line, shooting 86.4 percent, but struggled from the field (30.5 percent) and 3-point range (28.2 percent). He believes he’s a better shooter than the numbers show and that playing in Lange’s system will help his percentages improve. Simpson watched film of the Hawks and was courtside at their NIT first-round game at Seton Hall.
“I saw how there’s a lot of space for guards to make plays, get downhill and create stuff,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to playing within that system and being able to thrive and stuff like that.”
While his shooting percentages weren’t great at Rutgers, Simpson’s defense, by all accounts, was very good. This is an area where he can really help St. Joe’s with the transfer portal departure of Lynn Greer III, who arguably was the Hawks’ best perimeter defender last season.
“This year I think I took a step in defense,” he said. “I learned how to be more active with my hands and my feet. I got a lot of steals this year where I was in passing lanes. Just being active. That really helped my game. Not everything is going to go your way on the offensive side, but you can always control your defense, your ability, your heart, your grit.
“I just learned how to dig a little deep. If you put the effort on defense, it’s going to help your offense. I really think I can help St. Joe’s by being more active, whether that’s being more physical or more handsy.”
Playing in the Big Ten, against players who are physically and athletically gifted, helped Simpson develop a mind-set of how to play defensively.
“If you’re not physically up to par, physically minded, it can really take a toll on you,” he said. “I learned a lot about how I can use my body and quickness to play against more physical guys. I’m just trying to build off that and have a great summer, great fall.”
Simpson will finish up his spring semester classes at Rutgers before enrolling at Saint Joseph’s for the summer session, and his expectation is to become another backcourt threat for the Hawks, along with Xzayvier Brown and Erik Reynolds II.
“(Lange) pretty much told me I can be another good guard to the good guards they have,” Simpson said. “He wants me to be a ball-handler, be a playmaker, be a scorer, be a good defender, too. I think I bring some of that ability to their team.
“I’m kind of familiar with a lot of the players there. I felt like it was a good situation for me coming in.”
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Big5Hoops.com is his second website dedicated to Philadelphia college basketball. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages.