NBA Draft Profile: Derrick Williams

Derrick Williams

FORWARD

6-9, 241 lbs.

College: Arizona

Class: Sophomore

AP Photo

STRENGTHS: Williams was a man against boys at Arizona in 2011. He single-handedly destroyed Duke in the Sweet 16, leading the Wildcats on a 27-6 run that sent the heavily-favored Blue Devils home. Williams averaged 19.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in a breakout season in which he became a national star and led ‘Zona to within an inch of the Final Four. He can shoot from three-point range, rebounds very well, and displayed that natural killer instinct that could make him the No. 1 pick in the draft.

WEAKNESSES: He’s not a terrific athlete, and needs to find his niche as a scorer in the NBA. If Williams can develop a consistent mid-range jumper and prove he can shoot from NBA range, he could be an outstanding scorer at small forward. If not, he’s going to need to bulk up so he can hold his own on the low block. Either way, Williams, like most other small forward prospects, will have to find his niche in order to score consistently in the league. Still, he’s got the upside to do that, and should be a top-two pick.

Player stats courtesy of: www.cbssports.com.

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