D. J. Funderburk

Derek Funderburk Jr.
Iraklis
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueGreek Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1997-04-12) April 12, 1997
Lakewood, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Avtodor
2022Paris
2022–2023Reggiana
2023Hapoel Eilat
2023–2024Split
2024–2025Włocławek
2025–presentIraklis
Career highlights

Derek Funderburk Jr. (born April 12, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Iraklis of the Greek Basketball League.[1] He played college basketball for the Northwest Florida State Raiders and the NC State Wolfpack. He has also participated in the NBA Summer League with the Utah Jazz.[2]

High school career

Funderburk attended St. Edward High School. As a junior, he averaged 14.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game to help lead St. Edwards to the 2015 Division I State Final Four.[3] He transferred to Hargrave Military Academy for his senior season, playing under coach A. W. Hamilton and alongside future NC State teammate Braxton Beverly.[4] Funderburk averaged 18 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game and helped the Tigers to a Prep School National Championship and a 47–1 record.[3] Funderburk was ranked the No. 77 overall recruit in the class of 2016. He committed to Ohio State.[4]

College career

Funderburk redshirted his freshman season at Ohio State. He transferred to Northwest Florida State College and averaged 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game as a redshirt freshman, shooting 51.1 percent from the field. Funderburk transferred to NC State.[4] Funderburk averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a redshirt sophomore. He was suspended for violating team policy in September 2019.[5] Funderburk was charged with larceny property damage by university police after driving off with two car boots, damaging the boots and the concrete surface in the parking lot.[6] On December 29, 2019, he scored a career-high 22 points in a 72–60 win against Appalachian State.[7] As a redshirt junior, Funderburk averaged 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft, but ultimately opted to return to NC State.[8] Funderburk missed a game against Syracuse on January 31, 2021, due to a violation of university policy.[9] As a senior, he averaged 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.[10] Following the season, Funderburk declared for the 2021 NBA draft and signed with an agent, forgoing the additional season of eligibility the NCAA granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Funderburk signed with the Utah Jazz for Summer League play.[12]

On August 27, 2021, Funderburk signed his first professional contract with the Russian team Avtodor of the VTB United League.[13] He left the team after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14] Funderburk averaged 10.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. On March 16, 2022, Funderburk signed with Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A for the rest of the season.[15]

On July 12, 2022, Funderburk signed with Promitheas Patras of the Greek Basket League and the EuroCup.[16] On September 3, 2022, Funderburk mutually parted ways with the Greek club without appearing in a single official game with the team.[17] On the same day, he signed with Reggio Emilia of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[18]

On November 14, 2022, he signed with Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[19] On July 28, 2024, he signed with Anwil Włocławek of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).[20] On June 26, 2025, Wright-Foreman signed a one-year contract with Iraklis of the Greek Basketball League.[1]

Personal life

Funderburk is the son of Caren Crew and Derek Funderburk.[21]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

NCAA Division I

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Ohio State Redshirt
2018–19 NC State 36 1 19.9 .552 .269 .785 4.2 .4 .5 1.1 8.8
2019–20 NC State 30 15 26.0 .609 .222 .760 6.1 .3 .9 .8 12.8
2020–21 NC State 21 13 26.2 .562 .200 .792 5.6 .3 .7 .5 12.6
Career 87 29 23.5 .577 .237 .778 5.2 .4 .7 .8 11.1

JUCO

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Northwest Florida State 34 33 27.5 .511 .279 .743 5.0 1.7 1.2 .5 11.5

References

  1. ^ a b "Στον Ηρακλή ο D. J. Funderburk". iraklis-bc.gr (in Greek). 26 June 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  2. ^ Treasure, Angie (2 July 2022). "Jazz Announce 2022 Summer League Roster". NBA. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b "NC State basketball signs junior college post Derek Funderburk". Rivals.com. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Zembal, Jacey (19 October 2018). "DJ Funderburk's journey leads him to NC State". Rivals.com. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  5. ^ "DJ Funderburk suspended for breaking NC State Wolfpack policy". ESPN. Associated Press. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  6. ^ Giglio, Joe (10 October 2019). "N.C. State's Funderburk involved in parking incident before his suspension". The News & Observer. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Funderburk, Daniels spark Wolfpack win in Bryce's absence". ESPN. Associated Press. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  8. ^ Williams, Justin (31 July 2020). "DJ Funderburk officially returns to NC State". Rivals.com. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  9. ^ Carter, Matt (1 February 2021). "What they're saying about NC State basketball's loss at Syracuse". Rivals.com. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  10. ^ Alexander, Jonathan (7 July 2021). "Hornets invite NC State's Funderburk for pre-draft workout". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  11. ^ Williams, Justin (27 April 2021). "DJ Funderburk signs with Athletes Sports Management, ending NC State career". Rivals.com. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  12. ^ Smith, R. Cory (31 July 2021). "DJ Funderburk set to join Utah Jazz in NBA Summer League". 247 Sports. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  13. ^ Yahyabeyoglu, Fersu (27 August 2021). "DJ Funderburk joins Avtodor". Eurobasket. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Leave or stay: American players in Russia". basketnews.com.
  15. ^ "Le Paris Basketball recrute DJ Funderburk". parisbasketball.paris (in French). 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Προμηθέας Πάτρας - "Πατρινός" ο D.J Funderburk". promitheasbc.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  17. ^ "ΑΝΑΚΟΊΝΩΣΗ ΚΑΕ ΠΡΟΜΗΘΈΑ". promitheasbc.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  18. ^ Carchia, Emiliano (3 September 2022). "DJ Funderburk joins Pallacanestro Reggiana". Sportando. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  19. ^ "D.J. Funderburk et Manu Lecomte ensemble à l'Hapoel Eilat". bebasket.fr (in French). 14 November 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Anwil lands DJ Funderburk ex Split". Eurobasket. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  21. ^ "North Carolina State University". gopack.com. Retrieved 29 July 2024.