Derek Willis

Last updated

Derek Willis
Derek Willis 35 Anadolu Efes TBSL 20241229 (2) (cropped).jpg
No. 35–Paris Basketball
Position Power forward
League LNB Élite
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1995-06-21) June 21, 1995 (age 30)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school Bullitt East
(Mount Washington, Kentucky)
College Kentucky (2013–2017)
NBA draft 2017: undrafted
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2018 Grand Rapids Drive
2018–2019 Göttingen
2019–2020 Ratiopharm Ulm
2020–2021 Brindisi
2021–2022 Badalona
2022–2023 Venezia
2023–2025 Anadolu Efes
2025–present Paris Basketball
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Derek Willis.jpg

Derek Xavier Willis (born June 21, 1995) is an American basketball player for Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Contents

Early life

Willis is one of a relatively small number of Native Americans who have played in NCAA Division I basketball. His mother is a member of three tribes—Southern Arapaho, Pawnee, and Muscogee. Although born in Louisville, Kentucky, he lived with his family for several years during his childhood on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. According to Fox Sports writer Reid Forgrave, "His favorite childhood memories are from that reservation." The family eventually returned to the Louisville area, settling in the city of Mount Washington. [1]

High school career

As a 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m), 200-pound (91 kg) senior at Bullitt East High School, Willis averaged 17.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

College career

Willis was the first player to commit to Kentucky's 2013–14 recruiting class, [2] choosing UK over Indiana, Louisville and Purdue. [3] He appeared in 103 games over his four-year career with the Wildcats, turning in averages of 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest, while making 108 of his 271 shots taken from three-point territory in his college career. Willis won the SEC tournament with the Wildcats in 2015, 2016 and 2017, advancing to the NCAA Final Four in 2015. He proposed to his girlfriend on senior night, prior to Kentucky's home game against Vanderbilt. [4]

In April 2017, he attended the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, Virginia. [5]

Professional career

Grand Rapids Drive (2017–2018)

After going undrafted, Willis was signed by the Detroit Pistons of the NBA as a part of their training camp roster, [6] before being reassigned to the Pistons' G League affiliate Grand Rapids Drive. [7] In his professional debut on November 3, 2017, he provided the game-winning tip-in in Grand Rapids' 86–85 victory over the Erie BayHawks. [8] Making 43 G League appearances (38 starts) as a first-year player, Willis averaged 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest. [9]

BG Göttingen (2018–2019)

In late July 2018, Willis inked a deal with BG Göttingen of the German Basketball Bundesliga. [10] He saw action in 34 Bundesliga games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest for the Violets. [11]

Ratiopharm Ulm (2019–2020)

On July 22, 2019, he signed a two-year deal with German Bundesliga outfit Ratiopharm Ulm, known as the Sparrows. [12] Willis averaged 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during the 2019–20 season. [13]

Happy Casa Brindisi (2020–2021)

On July 17, 2020, he signed with Happy Casa Brindisi of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). [14]

Club Joventut Badalona (2021–2022)

On July 14, 2021, Willis signed with Club Joventut Badalona of the Liga ACB. [15]

Reyer Venezia (2022–2023)

On July 13, 2022, Willis signed with Reyer Venezia of the Lega Basket Serie A. [16] He averaged 12.9 points and 5 rebounds in the EuroCup, along with 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in the domestic league.

Anadolu Efes (2023–2025)

On June 25, 2023, Willis signed a two-year (1+1) contract with Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes.

Paris Basketball (2023–2025)

On July 4, 2025, he signed with Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A. [17]

International career

Willis was a member of the US team that competed at the 2012 Albert Schweitzer Tournament. [18] In February 2018, he was named to the USA squad for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers. [19]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game PIR  Performance index rating
 Bold Career high

EuroLeague

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGPIR
2023–24 Anadolu Efes 261223.0.475.444.9443.7.8.6.37.39.0
Career261223.0.475.444.9443.7.8.6.37.39.0

EuroCup

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGPIR
2019–20 ratiopharm Ulm 9722.1.531.571.9095.41.3.4.610.413.1
2021–22 Badalona 171323.1.532.417.6675.61.5.9.49.012.9
2022–23 Reyer Venezia 191825.2.546.475.9075.01.1.6.112.915.0
Career453823.8.538.480.8215.31.3.7.311.013.8

Basketball Champions League

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2020–21 Brindisi 101024.1.567.476.8625.31.6.8—10.3
Career101024.1.567.476.8625.31.6.8—10.3

Domestic leagues

YearTeamLeagueGPMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2017–18 Flag of the United States.svg Grand Rapids Gold G League 4328.1.469.376.8166.8.81.1.711.8
2018–19 Flag of Germany.svg Göttingen BBL 3423.8.486.425.8065.0.6.8.712.0
2019–20 Flag of Germany.svg ratiopharm Ulm BBL 2819.0.453.375.8095.21.1.5.68.6
2020–21 Flag of Italy.svg Brindisi LBA 3128.3.490.347.8118.31.6.9.611.0
2021–22 Flag of Spain.svg Joventut Badalona ACB 4023.2.523.439.8794.71.0.7.59.6
2022–23 Flag of Italy.svg Reyer Venezia LBA 3424.5.514.455.8715.21.4.5.39.8
2023–24 Flag of Turkey.svg Anadolu Efes TBSL 2525.4.578.432.9464.71.21.0.510.4

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2013–14 Kentucky 1402.8.333.167.750.6—.1—1.1
2014–15 Kentucky 1903.9.389.3331.000.7.3.1.21.3
2015–16 Kentucky 321118.6.482.442.8894.0.4.7.87.7
2016–17 Kentucky 381521.9.478.377.6885.4.9.71.07.0
Career1032615.0.473.399.8023.4.5.5.65.4

References

  1. ↑ Forgrave, Reid (March 15, 2016). "Kentucky's March X-factor Derek Willis is one unique guy". Fox Sports. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ "On Calipari's Kentucky, Hawkins and Willis Are the Rare Senior Wildcats". Sports. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Derek Willis picks Kentucky over Indiana, Louisville and Purdue". Inside the Hall | Indiana Hoosiers Basketball News, Recruiting and Analysis. January 20, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. ↑ Page, Fletcher (February 28, 2017). "Kentucky's Derek Willis proposes on Senior Night". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Derek Willis concludes play at Portsmouth Invitational Tournament". CoachCal.com. April 17, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Pistons sign Udrih, Willis, Nnoko; announce camp roster". The Detroit News . September 25, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  7. ↑ Fisher, Chris (October 11, 2017). "Kentucky Wildcats Derek Willis waived by Detroit Pistons". kentucky.247sports.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Willis beats buzzer to give Drive season opening win". Holland Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Derek Willis - NBA G League". NBA G League. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  10. ↑ Franklin, Drew (July 27, 2018). "Derek Willis to play in Germany | Kentucky Sports Radio". kentuckysportsradio.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  11. ↑ "easyCredit - 42890 Derek WILLIS". easycredit-bbl.de (in German). Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Derek Willis wechselt aus Göttingen nach Ulm". ratiopharmulm.com (in German). Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  13. ↑ "easyCredit - 42890 Derek WILLIS". easycredit-bbl.de (in German). Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Happy Casa Brindisi officially signs Derek Willis". Sportando. July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  15. ↑ Maggi, Alessandro (July 14, 2021). "Joventut Badalona announces Derek Willis". Sportando. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Umana Reyer secure the signature of Derek Willis". basketnews.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Derek Willis joins Paris Basketball on a two-year deal". Sportando. July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  18. ↑ Bryan, Rusty (April 14, 2012). "US finishes seventh in Albert Schweitzer basketball tournament". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  19. ↑ Peck, Jared (February 22, 2018). "Former Cats make USA Basketball roster for two televised World Cup qualifiers". kentucky.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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