University of Arizona’s Possible Top NBA Pick Williams Declares for Draft
University of Arizona sophomore forward Derrick Williams will enter this year’s National Basketball Association draft after scoring more points in his first two seasons than any player in school history.
Williams is projected as the No. 1 pick by NBAdraftnet.com and said he intends to hire an agent, which would mean forfeiting his remaining college eligibility.
The 6-foot-8 Williams averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds last season and was voted the Pacific-10 Conference’s player of the year. He led the Wildcats to the final eight of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s tournament where they lost 65-63 to eventual champion Connecticut.
“We are all excited to follow his journey to the NBA, and I have no doubt he will be very successful as an NBA player,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said in a statement.
Williams joins underclassmen such as Duke University freshman Kyrie Irving and Connecticut junior Kemba Walker in declaring for the NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 23 in Newark, New Jersey.
To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Matuszewski in New York at matuszewski@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net
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