Derek Willis facts for kids
_(cropped).jpg) |
|
| No. 35 – Anadolu Efes | |
|---|---|
| Power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 21, 1995 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| High school | Bullitt East (Mount Washington, Kentucky) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 229 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kentucky (2013–2017) |
| NBA Draft | 2017 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2017–present |
| League | BSL EuroLeague |
| Career history | |
| 2017–2018 | Grand Rapids Drive |
| 2018–2019 | BG Göttingen |
| 2019–2020 | Ratiopharm Ulm |
| 2020–2021 | Happy Casa Brindisi |
| 2021–2022 | Joventut Badalona |
| 2022–2023 | Reyer Venezia |
| 2023–present | Anadolu Efes |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Derek Willis (born June 21, 1995) is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a power forward for Anadolu Efes in Turkey. This team competes in the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi and the top European league, the EuroLeague. Before becoming a pro, Derek played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Contents
Derek Willis's Early Life
Derek Willis is one of the few Native American players in top-level basketball. His mother has roots in three tribes: Southern Arapaho, Pawnee, and Muscogee.
Even though he was born in Louisville, Kentucky, Derek spent part of his childhood on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. He has shared that his favorite memories from growing up are from his time on the reservation. Later, his family moved back to the Louisville area, settling in Mount Washington.
High School Basketball Career
Derek Willis attended Bullitt East High School. By his senior year, he was 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. During that year, he was a star player. He scored an average of 17.4 points per game. He also grabbed 9.4 rebounds in each game.
College Days at Kentucky
Derek Willis was one of the first players to commit to the University of Kentucky's basketball team in 2013. He chose Kentucky over other big schools like Indiana, Louisville, and Purdue.
He played in 103 games during his four years with the Kentucky Wildcats. On average, he scored 5.4 points and got 3.4 rebounds per game. He was also good at shooting from long range. He made 108 three-point shots out of 271 attempts in his college career.
Derek helped the Wildcats win the SEC tournament three times: in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2015, his team even made it to the NCAA Final Four, which is a huge achievement in college basketball. On his "senior night," before a home game, he proposed to his girlfriend.
Starting His Professional Career
After college, Derek Willis began his professional basketball journey.
Playing in the G League
Even though he wasn't picked in the NBA draft, the Detroit Pistons signed Derek. He joined their training camp roster. Later, he was sent to their G League team, the Grand Rapids Drive.
In his very first professional game on November 3, 2017, Derek made the winning shot. He tipped the ball in to give Grand Rapids an 86–85 victory. In his first year, he played in 43 G League games, starting 38 of them. He averaged 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
European Adventures
After playing in the G League, Derek moved to Europe to continue his career.
- BG Göttingen (2018–2019): In 2018, Derek signed with BG Göttingen in Germany. He played in 34 games in the German league. He averaged 12.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the team.
- Ratiopharm Ulm (2019–2020): In 2019, he signed a two-year deal with another German team, Ratiopharm Ulm. During the 2019–20 season, he averaged 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
- Happy Casa Brindisi (2020–2021): In 2020, Derek moved to Italy. He signed with Happy Casa Brindisi in the Lega Basket Serie A.
- Club Joventut Badalona (2021–2022): The next year, in 2021, he signed with Club Joventut Badalona in Spain. This team plays in the Liga ACB, one of Europe's top leagues.
- Reyer Venezia (2022–2023): In 2022, Derek returned to Italy to play for Reyer Venezia. He had a strong season, averaging 12.9 points and 5 rebounds in the EuroCup competition. He also averaged 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in the Italian league.
- Anadolu Efes (2023–present): Since June 2023, Derek Willis has been playing for Anadolu Efes in Turkey. This team is a very strong club in European basketball.
Playing for His Country
Derek Willis has also represented the United States in international competitions. He was part of the US team that played in the 2012 Albert Schweitzer Tournament. In 2018, he was chosen to join the USA squad for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers.
See also
In Spanish: Derek Willis para niños
