University of the Incarnate Word Athletics

2020-21 (Sophomore): Appeared in seven games with one start at Houston Baptist on March 3 while coming back from an injury…scored a season-best seven points and eight rebounds against New Orleans on March 1.
 
2019-20 (Freshman): Appeared in 24 games…scored 40 points, 50 rebounds, 16 assists, 19 steals and seven blocks…averaged 25.4% (15-for-59) from the field, 14.3% (4-for-28) from 3-point range and a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line…scored a career-best ten points on 4-for-5 field goal shooting against HBU on Jan. 29.
 
High School: A three-year letterwinner playing for coach Jamey Collins at Dublin Coffman High School…averaged 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game...shot 78% from the free throw line...helped lead team to a .760 winning percentage over varsity career, including a district championship, district runner up, and league championship...named first team all-conference once and second team all-conference twice...earned all-district honors three times...won fourth place in Ohio state high school track and field meet at high jump…a two-time academic honor roll recipient.

Personal: The son of Jeff Van Vlerah and Andrea Helton of Dublin, Ohio...has a younger sister, Ada, and a younger brother, Dylan…an education major.

Coach Cunningham said: "Derek is a thoughtful, dynamic hooper who has played a big roll on one of Ohio's best teams the last couple of years. And he's got more hops than the Pearl. I mean, he just high jumped 6-foot-7 with room to spare. He's also a fine lecture-hall operator. We're excited to welcome him to UIW."