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Assigned Reading: Duquesne guard’s battle with cancer

Duquesne v Butler

Getty Images

Getty Images

In 2013, Duquesne guard Derrick Colter was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie first team. Despite a dip in minutes, he led the Dukes in assists this past season. He’ll be ready to start his junior season this fall, though, it will come after a battle with cancer.

The 5-foot-11 guard was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in April. He’s been in remission since late June. During that span -- from the diagnosis and throughout the treatment -- the news of his battle with cancer was kept mainly with his his family and the Duquesne basketball program. Dana O’Neil of ESPN.com profiled Colter in a story published on Tuesday. In it, she describes his uplifting spirit through the entire ordeal and the toughness he displayed; the same fight his older brother JJ had.

[Dr. Stanley] Marks ordered a biopsy and, on April 22, while Derrick was home for Easter weekend, Dr. Marks called with the diagnosis. Derrick had non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.

“I didn’t understand at first,’' Derrick said, “and then you hear that word -- cancer -- and I just ... there were no words. It was like everything just stopped. Me and my mom broke down crying and my dad just kind of was looking straight.’'

That was the beginning and the end of the Colter Family Pity Party.


The entire story can be read here.

Colter averaged 9.0 points and 3.4 assists per game as a sophomore for the Dukes.

Follow @terrence_payne