Derrick Williams: From Unknown to Lottery Pick



Derrick Williams

University of Arizona sophomore forward Derrick Williams’ NBA draft stock has gone from undrafted to a top five lottery pick. Even though Williams was having a great season before the NCAA tournament, the majority of it had gone unnoticed. The elevation in his performance during March Madness increased his draft stock.

This year Williams averaged 19.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, but the Wildcats were not expected to make a Sweet 16 appearance. Notoriety began to build when the Wildcats made a run in the Pac-10 tournament with Williams leading the way averaging 22 ppg in three games, not to mention making posters out of opposing defenders with thunderous dunks.

Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 240, Williams’ game is composed of strength and athleticism that allows for him to dominate in the post area. Not only can he rise over defenders down low, but Williams’ range extends to the perimeter as he shot 60 percent from 3-point range. With such remarkable numbers it is a bit perplexing for a player with his skill-set to be away from the spotlight.



Williams going up for a slam



The La Mirada, Ca, native has been an efficient player in each of his two seasons. In his freshman campaign Williams averaged 15.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and was named the 2010 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. The only issue is that the Wildcats finished the season at 16-15 overall and 10-8 in the Pac-10. This year Williams led his team to a 30-8 record and a Sweet 16 appearance against the Connecticut Huskies in which he averaged 22 points and 9 rebounds throughout the NCAA tournament.

Ryan Rudnansky of bleacherreport.com says “although Williams was limited in the Wildcats' 65-63 loss to the Huskies, Williams could still be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft if he declares.”

In Sporting News' Sean Deveney's NBA Mock Draft nearly three months ago, Williams was not even on the list. Now, he is pretty much accepted as a top five pick. His rise has been said best by Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo! Sports:

"Williams has gone from sixth man for an undistinguished Los Angeles-area high school program as a sophomore, to under-the-radar Division I prospect as a senior, to a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick two years later."

Rising to the occasion on colleges basketball’s biggest stage places Williams in a tough position. He has to make a decision on whether to enter the draft or return to school. Many believe that his stock is too high to return especially after dropping 32 points and grabbing 13 boards in a tournament win against Duke before the Wildcats Sweet 16 loss.

ESPN's Chad Ford has him ranked fifth on his big board, noting him as one of the most efficient players in the league this year. He says of him:

"While no one thinks he'll be a superstar, they think he's going to be a terrific pro in an otherwise so-so draft."

The Early Entry Eligibility Deadline is April 24th, 2011 and the NBA Draft Early Entry Entrant Withdrawal Deadline June 13th at 5:00 p.m. EST. The 2011 NBA Draft will be held on June 23, 2011.