UMass basketball player Derrick Gordon is "being true" since his recent announcement that he's gay. Gordon has now become the first active male NCAA Div. 1 basketball player to come out publicly.

It was not an easy road for Gordon, who at first had some reservations about coming out following an incident where he was teased by his teammates after a photo was posted on Instagram of Gordon and his then-boyfriend at a gay bar. Although he tried to deny his sexuality, Gordon's teammates continued to tease him.

"That was probably the lowest point I was ever at. I didn't want to play basketball anymore. I just wanted to run and hide somewhere. I used to go back to my room and I'd just cry. There were nights when I would cry myself to sleep. Nobody should ever feel that way," Gordon told Outsports.

After the incident, Gordon started to slowly develop a support system of openly gay athletes who stood by the 22-year-old when he decided to go public.

"[Gordon] closely watched the news around NBA veteran Jason Collins and NFL prospect Michael Sam, both of whom are active players and have publicly acknowledged being gay. About a year ago, Gordon befriended former NFL player Wade Davis, who is now the executive director of the LGBT athletic support organization, You Can Play. Davis introduced Gordon to Anthony Nicodemo, the boys' basketball coach at Saunders High School in Yonkers, N.Y., who came out as gay last year. Davis and Nicodemo, along with several others, including Collins, mentored Gordon behind the scenes," reports ESPN.

Gordon explained to ESPN how his support group had a profound impact on his life during a time that felt was "the lowest point" in his life prior to coming out of the closet.

"It was a rough process, actually, leading up to this. Those guys just helped me get to where I am right now," Gordon said. "If it wasn't for them, I'd be stuck. For this to be happening right now, me coming out, it's an indescribable feeling, honestly. I couldn't be any happier. I feel like I can fly."

Before breaking the news to his coach and teammates who now support Gordon, he told his parents who responded with mixed feelings.

"I just froze for about 10 seconds," Gordon's mother told USA Today. "I kind of knew but I didn't want the answer to be yes. One of the first things he said was, 'Mom don't cry.' After we talked, I told him, 'I still love you.' I'm just happy he's relieved of years of pain," said Sandra Gordon.

She later admitted that though she, her husband, and her other son accept Gordon, his twin brother Darryl isn't too fond of the announcement.

"Darryl is taking it real hard. You know, he'll say he can't support gays," Sandra Gordon said. "And I'll just say, 'Support your brother.' It's not like he just woke up and said, 'I'm gay.' I told him, 'that could have been you.'"

Despite the mixed reactions, Gordon is finally happy to be who he truly is and took to Instagram to relish in the news.

"This is the happiest I have ever been in my 22 Years of living...No more HIDING!!!...Just want to live life happy and play the sport that I love...Really would love to thank my family, friends, coaches, and teammates for supporting me....I would also like to thank my support team Wade Davis, Jason Collins, Brian Sims, Micah Porter, Anthony Nicodemo, Patrick Burke,Billy Bean, Gerald McCullough, Kirk Walker...You guys are AWESOME!!! Ready to get back in the gym with my teammates and get on the GRIND and get ready for next season!!!! #BETRUE #BEYOURSELF #HONEYBADGER."