January 2025 NBRPA Member Spotlights

NBRPA membership is comprised of a diverse group of former professional basketball players of the NBA, ABA, WNBA, and Harlem Globetrotters.

Each month, we'll spotlight NBRPA members from each league to recognize their career on the court as well as the impact they are now having in their communities.

Derrick Demetrius Coleman attended Syracuse University and was selected first overall in the 1990 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets.

Throughout his career, the left-handed Coleman was an effective low post scorer, averaging 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds. He enjoyed his best years as a member of the New Jersey Nets, where he averaged 19.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. When Coleman entered the NBA, he was compared to elite power forwards such as Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, and expected to put up similar numbers, only with the added ability to shoot from three-point range. Coleman made the 1994 NBA All-Star team.

As of 2007, he is a well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist and community ambassador in the Detroit metropolitan area and other cities. His many accomplishments are well recognized and honored by all, giving him the title “DC” the man who gets the job done!. He has also appeared as an occasional studio analyst for NBA TV's "NBA Gametime Live" coverage.

Derrick Is the current president of the National Basketball Retired Players Association: Detroit Legends Chapter.  As president of the Detroit Chapter, Derick’s vision for the Chapter is to come back “stronger, better and stay active.” The Chapter needs signature and community events to generate visibility, sustainability, and resources. He explains, “the Chapter need more collaborations, partnerships to build community relationships to foster support for charitable and philanthropic activities with a connection to the game and kids. Lastly, to support its members, their initiatives and to stay involved and connected.”

Richard Darnell is a former professional basketball center who spent one season in the American Basketball Association (ABA) with the Virginia Squires during the 1975–76 season. He completed his collegiate career at San Jose State University, after two seasons (1970–71, 1971–72) at Cypress College and one season (1972–73) at Indiana State.

He averaged 17.5 points and 12.8 rebounds during his career at Cypress; he remains tied for ninth in career rebounds for the Chargers. He averaged 9.7 points and 8.1 rebounds during his one season at Indiana State & 10.2 points and 8.1 rebounds during his season at San Jose State.

Rick Darnell currently coaches basketball to underprivileged children in South Los Angeles.

Danielle McCulley was born in Gary, Indiana, to two wonderful parents, Regina Glenn and Dana McCulley.  At the young age of 10, Danielle would receive heartbreaking news, learning that her father was murdered from a random act of gun violence.  

This would serve as a catalyst, prompting Danielle to put her emotions elsewhere, and basketball became the space where she could do it.  Danielle would become an Indiana All-Star at Gary Westside High School.  Receiving attention from universities all over the country, McCulley chose to stay home near her mother and play for Purdue University.  

Later, Danielle would take the opportunity to transfer to Western Kentucky, where she became a 2 time first team All-Conference performer in the Sun Belt Conference.  McCulley, known for her ability to consistently knock down three pointers, post up, and guard every position on the floor, Danielle would get drafted as the #1 pick in the pro women’s basketball league, the ABL.  

The ABL would eventually fold, and the WNBA Indiana Fever quickly capitalized by picking up McCulley.  Danielle’s professional basketball career would expand for 5 additional years, playing 2 years for the Fever, 2 years for the Seattle Storm, and playing throughout all over the World in France, Greece, China, Turkey, Israel, and Brazil.  

After Danielle’s pro career she would revert back to the 2 years of Computer and Electrical Engineering experience received at Purdue, and the Bachelor’s of Science degree she received at Western Kentucky in Electrical Engineering to develop and document moderately complex electronic and electrical system requirements, hardware, and software interface specifications.  

Through the years she’s worked as an independent contractor and has a current role at thee Boeing Company headquarters in Renton, Washington.  For enjoyment, Danielle participates in work as an insurance broker for Swinburson Insurance Company.  McCulley is a mentor to many, a community activist, and is a loyal member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association. 

Calvin "CJ" Pepper is a proud native of Crofton, Kentucky. He fell in love with the game of basketball in 1983, at the tender age of five and never looked back. Throughout his prep and collegiate career, he received multiple accolades such as Kentucky All State, Kentucky Region 2 Player of the Year, Junior College All-American, Player of the Year, and Union Planters Bank Player of the Year.  Because of his dead-eye mid-range jumper and killer up-and-under moves, CJ became the 2^nd all-time leading scorer when he left high school in 1996 and the 4^th time leading scorer when he left Moberly Area Community College in 1998.

While at Arkansas State University, he was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the week on multiple occasions. But what CJ is most proud of having helped lead their team to the NCAA tournament for the first-, and only-time history.  After undergrad and a brief stint overseas, from 2001-2004, CJ was given the opportunity to play for the New York Nationals and then ultimately for the Harlem Globetrotters.  As a Globetrotter, he found joy in bringing smiles to the families who attended the games and the life-long bonds he made with his teammates and the Harlem Globetrotter organization.

After professional basketball, CJ completed his bachelor’s degree in 2005 and then in 2006, he decided to play in the ABA for the American Bulldogs, where he was a player-coach. Because of his passion to help the community, he went on to advocate for the mental health needs of youth and adults for over 15 years, eventually becoming the Director of Business Development at Life Strategies Counseling, Inc. His dedication didn’t stop there. He has served on the board of directors for several community entities such as Arkansas Early Learning (Head Start), Court Appointed Special Advocate, CASA, and the Children’s Advocacy Center.  It was during his leadership with the Children’s Advocacy Center that he spearheaded and raised over $25,000 with the first-ever Red on Red Basketball game in the state of Arkansas. This game consisted of the basketball alumni of the University of Arkansas versus the basketball alumni of Arkansas State University. Feeling the need to share his love for basketball and the Lord, CJ participated in his first mission trip in 2007 to South Africa with Central Baptist Church where he was able to share his love for Christ while teaching children the game of basketball. 

Recognizing his contribution to the sport and the community, his alma mater, Christian County High School inducted him into the basketball Hall of Fame and Moberly Area Community College bestowed the first ever Outstanding Young Alumni to CJ.

Currently, he is an independent insurance agent and real estate investor with his LLC, CJDP Holding Ventures.  He stays close to basketball as the color analyst of the Arkansas State University men’s basketball team on ESPN+ and an active member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association. 

CJ is married to his lovely wife, has two wonderful children, and a blessed grandson.