Back-to-the-basket post player who has been hampered by knee injuries throughout
his career ... originally enrolled at American University in Washington D.C. prior
to a two-year stint at Palm Beach Community College ... underwent arthroscopic
surgery to repair a ligament in his left ankle on May 16
As a Junior at Duquesne (2002-03)
Saw action in one game.... scored two points and grabbing two rebounds in four minutes of action at Maryland on Nov. 30.... withdrew from school prior to winter 2003 semester.
Junior College
Palm Beach Community College in Palm Beach, Fla. (head coach Steve Bernath) ...
did not play basketball in 2000-01 while rehabilitating his knee ... saw limited action
during his sophomore season ... was also offered a scholarship by Hartford prior
to signing with Duquesne ... was listed as one of the nation's Top 60 junior college
sophomores by Rick Ball/Ballplayers JC Report.
High School
DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. (head coach Morgan Wooten)
... played under legendary coach Morgan Wooten at DeMatha for two seasons, where
he was a teammate of Joseph Forte (North Carolina/Seattle Supersonics) and Keith
Bogans (Kentucky) ... was a back-up center for DeMatha teams that went a combined
62-5 (34-1 as a junior and 28-4 as a senior) ... was listed as the seventh-best
player in the "Super 20 Seniors" of the Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland region
... was ranked as the 17th-best center in the class of 1999 by Recruiting Beat
newsletter ... attended Norwich (Conn.) Free Academy, where he started as a sophomore,
prior to enrolling at DeMatha ... was named one of the top 10 sophomores in
Connecticut by Connecticut High School Hoops magazine in 1996 ... his overall high
school record at Norwich and DeMatha was a combined 102-13.
Personal
Originally signed with American University in the fall of 1999 under then-Eagles
head coach Art Perry ... injured his right knee in the summer before enrolling at
American ... underwent two surgeries while sitting out his freshman season ... was
later granted a medical redshirt for the 1999-00 campaign ... was also recruited by
Providence, Pittsburgh, BYU and Air Force out of high school ... committed to the
Dukes in November 2001 ... comes from a military family ... his father, Donald, is an
officer at Andrews Air Force Base ... history major ... full name is Derek Edward Ahern
... date of birth: 9/25/80 in Sacramento, California.
