NBA Draft Profiles: Derrick Williams, Arizona

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Stats: 19.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.7 bpg, 2.6 t/o's, 56.8% 3PT

Age: 20, sophomore

Size:

• Listed: 6'9", 250 lb
• Official: 6'7.25" (no shoes), 6'8.75" (with shoes), 7'1.5" (wingspan), 9'0" (reach), 248 lb

Strengths: There is a lot to like about Williams game. At the college level, he was an absolute nightmare to defend because he is, simply put, a complete package offensively and one of the most efficient players in the country. Williams was an quality scorer in the post, thanks to his ability to establish position on the block, solid footwork, and a soft touch around the rim. Williams is a bit undersized for a power forward, however. His post game may not translate as well to the NBA, which is why his perimeter arsenal is such a valuable asset. Williams developed into a deadly shooter this past season. Midway through the year, he was knocking down over 70% of his shots from beyond the arc before a "slump" dropped him down to 56.8% by the end of the season. He shows tremendous shot selection, rarely forcing contested perimeter jumpers. Williams has a terrific handle for a player of his size, capable of putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim with either hand. As you'll see in the highlight clips below, he's athletic enough to throw down some truly sensational dunks when he gets a head of steam. He also is excellent at getting to the free throw line, as he understands how to use his body to create contact.

Weaknesses: The biggest issue with Williams as a prospect is that he falls into that dreaded tweener category. He doesn't quite have the size to be a dominant power forward in the NBA, and while his skill set should help him translate well to playing more minutes on the perimeter, his mediocre physical tools for a small forward are worrisome. Is he big enough to be a four? Quick enough to be a three? That's a big question mark, but the talent that Williams' displayed this season and his improvement as a perimeter threat should help quiet those doubters. Beyond that, the weaknesses in Williams' game are fairly fixable. He turns the ball over a bit too much, which is the result of his habit of holding onto the ball for too long. He also needs to work on boxing out. He has a bad habit of going after the ball too early, allowing his man to get a free run at an offensive rebound.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Somewhere between a better-shooting David West and less-knuckleheaded Michael Beasley. It depends on just how well he is able to transition to being a perimeter player. I think that Williams will, eventually, be able to become a more perimeter-oriented player, which would make the Beasley comparison seem more fitting. I could see Williams having a career arc similar to that of Antawn Jamison, who has been an 18 and 8 guy for a decade.


• Worst Case Scenario: Thaddeus Young. Young has been a major factor for the Sixers the past three seasons, averaging double figures as a starter for two years before becoming the sixth man this past season. And while he has been productive, Young hasn't become a go-to scoring option. If Williams struggles transitioning to playing the perimeter full-time, I can see him ending up in a similar role.

Outlook: Williams was the kind of player that the stat-heads love just as much as the people that scout the game by watching film. Thanks to his knack for drawing fouls and his lights-out three point shooting, Williams was one of the most efficient players in the country this past season, which is saying something for a guy that had to carry a team despite not even being a top 100 recruit just two years prior. As I said earlier, Williams is the total package offensively. He can score in the post, he can score on his jump shot, he can hit a pull-up, he can bury a three, and he can make Blake Griffin look ordinary. There is little doubt that he will be able to score at the next level. The question is what position he will play, and how effective he will be at that position. Since he is a bit undersized, I'd expect him to start to transition to playing the perimeter on a more regular basis. To do so, he is going to need to become quicker -- especially on the defensive end of the floor -- and improve his ball handling and passing. That should come with time. Since Williams' is a tweener, he also has a post game. So while its a negative to be stuck between positions for some players, Williams is talented enough that it could play to his advantage. Fours won't be able to guard him on the perimeter and threes will struggle against him in the post. For Williams, the lack of a position is another reason that he is such a unique and promising recruit.

Draft Range: Top two

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Williams was one of the four or five best players in the country this year. He's become a true inside/outside threat as a scorer. He's aggressive, makes smart decisions and will really attack the rim. Some scouts are worried he's a tweener, but other teams have him No. 1 overall on their Big Board."


• Draft Express: "The deadly combination he brings to the table with his quick first step, long strides, polished footwork and outstanding body control hasn't been seen in college basketball since Michael Beasley. Power forwards at this level simply have no way to slow him down, as evidenced by the incredible rate at which he gets to the free throw line. Better yet, he converts 76% of his attempts, up from 68% last season. Not only can Williams create marvelously, he's also an excellent finisher. He's able to throw down emphatic dunks when given a head start and he shows the ability to contort his body and avoid contact in a manner more reminiscent of a wing player than a power forward."


• Swish Scout: "Crafty forward with a superb inside-out game, consisting of refined post moves and the ability to step out on the perimeter to knock down the 3. Williams needs to keep refining his perimeter game and moves off the dribble to play some SF in the NBA, but has a mature game and is an impact player right now."

Highlights: