Getting to Know Derwin Kitchen

After breaking onto the national scene last summer at the AAU Nationals and solidifying himself at the City of Palms Classic in December, Jacksonville (FL) Raines guard Derwin Kitchen has made sure people know his name. The No. 63 player on the Rivals100 is now trying to bring home a state title to help continue his success on the court.

Kitchen will hit the hardwood this Saturday along with his Raines HS teammates as they play city rival Ribault HS for the fifth time this season. The two Jacksonville teams have met twice in regular season play, once in a holiday tournament and once in the area playoffs. Raines is 3-1 in the series this season. With a win, Raines will advance to the state’s Final Four.

“We know what we need to do to win,” Kitchen said. “We just need to control the tempo of the game and not turn the ball over. They like to pressure so we’ll just need to stay in our game and play smart.”

The 6-foot-4, 180 pound guard said he is averaging a respectable 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists on the season. Kitchen said he has adjusted his style to meet the needs of his team this season.

“I’ve played pretty good this year, I’m more of a team player now,” Kitchen said. “Last year it was basically me and one other guy but now we have four other guys that can score whenever and however.”

With his new role as a team leader, a couple of high major programs have been able to see the guard up close. Wake Forest assistant coach Jeff Battle has been to some of Kitchen’s games this year and Florida sent Anthony Grant and Donnie Jones to evaluate the junior. Florida State and Virginia Tech are also pursuing the guard.

Georgia was looking at Kitchen seriously but after they landed Mike Mercer and Louis Williams, Kitchen said he hasn’t heard from the Bulldogs since. A Big 12 power has just started to inquire about him, too.

“Kansas called my high school coach today and they said they wanted to make it out to some of my AAU games,” he said.

Out of all of those schools, Kitchen said one program has already elevated their school to the top of his list because of their guard play and conference.

“Wake Forest is my favorite. I’m not go to hide that,” Kitchen said. “They are in the ACC and I’ve always wanted to play against the toughest competition. All of the good programs are in that conference. I want to be there to be part of it.”

The two state schools (Florida and FSU) have had Kitchen on an unofficial trip and Kitchen said he’d like to make it up to Winston-Salem and visit the Demon Deacons.

Kitchen will roll with the Jacksonville Lee Bulls AAU program during the summer.