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Derek Willis

{{Short description|American basketball player}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Derek Willis

| image = Derek Willis 35 Anadolu Efes TBSL 20241229 (2) (cropped).jpg

| position = Power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 229

| league = BSL
EuroLeague

| team = Anadolu Efes

| number = 35

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|6|21}}

| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

| high_school = Bullitt East
(Mount Washington, Kentucky)

| college = Kentucky (2013–2017)

| draft_year = 2017

| career_start = 2017

| years1 = 2017–2018

| team1 = Grand Rapids Drive

| years2 = 2018–2019

| team2 = Göttingen

| years3 = 2019–2020

| team3 = Ratiopharm Ulm

| years4 = 2020–2021

| team4 = Brindisi

| years5 = 2021–2022

| team5 = Badalona

| years6 = 2022–2023

| team6 = Venezia

| years7 = 2023–present

| team7 = Anadolu Efes

| highlights =

* Turkish Super Cup winner (2024)

}}

File:Derek Willis.jpg

Derek Willis (born June 21, 1995) is an American basketball player for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/kentuckys-march-x-factor-derek-willis-is-one-unique-guy |title=Kentucky's March X-factor Derek Willis is one unique guy |first=Reid |last=Forgrave |work=Fox Sports |date=March 15, 2016 |access-date=July 23, 2023}}

High school career

As a {{convert|6|ft|9|in|adj=on}}, {{convert|200|lb|adj=on}} 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,{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/on-caliparis-kentucky-hawkins-and-willis-are-the-rare-senior-wildcats/|title=On Calipari's Kentucky, Hawkins and Willis Are the Rare Senior Wildcats|website=Sports|language=en-us|access-date=June 9, 2017}} choosing UK over Indiana, Louisville and Purdue.{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Derek Willis picks Kentucky over Indiana, Louisville and Purdue |url=https://www.insidethehall.com/2012/01/20/derek-willis-picks-kentucky-over-indiana-louisville-and-purdue |access-date=June 9, 2017 |website=Inside the Hall {{!}} Indiana Hoosiers Basketball News, Recruiting and Analysis}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Page |first=Fletcher |date=February 28, 2017 |title=Kentucky's Derek Willis proposes on Senior Night |language=en |work=The Courier-Journal |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2017/02/28/kentuckys-derek-willis-proposes-senior-night/98556594 |access-date=June 9, 2017}}

In April 2017, he attended the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, Virginia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.coachcal.com/44987/2017/04/derek-willis-concludes-play-at-portsmouth-invitational-tournament/|title=Derek Willis concludes play at Portsmouth Invitational Tournament|date=April 17, 2017|website=CoachCal.com|access-date=June 9, 2017}}

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,{{cite news |date=September 25, 2017 |title=Pistons sign Udrih, Willis, Nnoko; announce camp roster |work=The Detroit News |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2017/09/25/pistons-sign-udrih-willis-nnoko-announce-camp-roster/105987388 |access-date=July 23, 2023}} before being reassigned to the Pistons' G League affiliate Grand Rapids Drive.{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Chris |date=October 11, 2017 |title=Kentucky Wildcats Derek Willis waived by Detroit Pistons |work=kentucky.247sports.com |url=https://247sports.com/college/kentucky/article/kentucky-wildcats-derek-willis-waived-by-detroit-pistons-108712786/ |access-date=July 23, 2023}} 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.{{Cite news |title=Willis beats buzzer to give Drive season opening win |language=en |work=Holland Sentinel |url=http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/20171104/willis-beats-buzzer-to-give-drive-season-opening-win |url-status=dead |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010956/http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/20171104/willis-beats-buzzer-to-give-drive-season-opening-win }} Making 43 G League appearances (38 starts) as a first-year player, Willis averaged 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest.{{Cite news|url=http://gleague.nba.com/player/derek-willis/|title=Derek Willis - NBA G League|work=NBA G League|access-date=July 30, 2018|language=en-US}}

= BG Göttingen (2018–2019) =

In late July 2018, Willis inked a deal with BG Göttingen of the German Basketball Bundesliga.{{Cite web |last=Franklin |first=Drew |date=July 27, 2018 |title=Derek Willis to play in Germany {{!}} Kentucky Sports Radio |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/derek-willis-germany-gottingen |access-date=July 23, 2023 |website=kentuckysportsradio.com |language=en-US}} He saw action in 34 Bundesliga games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest for the Violets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.easycredit-bbl.de/de/statistiken/spieler/portraits/p/42890-derek-willis/|title=easyCredit - 42890 Derek WILLIS|website=easycredit-bbl.de|language=de|access-date=2019-07-22}}

= Ratiopharm Ulm (2019–2020) =

On July 22, 2019, he signed a two-year deal with German Bundesliga outfit Ratiopharm Ulm, known as the Sparrows.{{Cite web |title=Derek Willis wechselt aus Göttingen nach Ulm |url=https://ratiopharmulm.com/news/derek-willis-wechselt-aus-goettingen-nach-ulm-479/ |access-date=July 22, 2019 |website=ratiopharmulm.com |language=de-DE |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722174322/https://ratiopharmulm.com/news/derek-willis-wechselt-aus-goettingen-nach-ulm-479/ |url-status=dead }} Willis averaged 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during the 2019–20 season.{{Cite web|title=easyCredit - 42890 Derek WILLIS|url=https://www.easycredit-bbl.de/de/statistiken/spieler/portraits/p/42890-derek-willis/|website=easycredit-bbl.de|language=de|access-date=2020-05-16}}

= Happy Casa Brindisi (2020–2021) =

On July 17, 2020, he signed with Happy Casa Brindisi of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/happy-casa-brindisi-officially-signs-derek-willis/|title=Happy Casa Brindisi officially signs Derek Willis|date=July 19, 2020|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=July 17, 2020}}

= Club Joventut Badalona (2021–2022) =

On July 14, 2021, Willis signed with Club Joventut Badalona of the Liga ACB.{{cite news |last=Maggi |first=Alessandro |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Joventut Badalona announces Derek Willis |website=Sportando |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/joventut-badalona-announces-derek-willis/ |access-date=July 14, 2021}}

= Reyer Venezia (2022–2023) =

On July 13, 2022, Willis signed with Reyer Venezia of the Lega Basket Serie A.{{Cite web |title=Umana Reyer secure the signature of Derek Willis |url=https://basketnews.com/news-175119-umana-reyer-secure-the-signature-of-derek-willis.html |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=basketnews.com |language=en}} 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–present) =

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

International career

Willis was a member of the US team that competed at the 2012 Albert Schweitzer Tournament.{{Cite news |last=Bryan |first=Rusty |date=April 14, 2012 |title=US finishes seventh in Albert Schweitzer basketball tournament |work=Stars and Stripes |url=https://www.stripes.com/sports/us-finishes-seventh-in-albert-schweitzer-basketball-tournament-1.174464 |access-date=July 23, 2023}} In February 2018, he was named to the USA squad for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers.{{Cite news |last=Peck |first=Jared |date=February 22, 2018 |title=Former Cats make USA Basketball roster for two televised World Cup qualifiers |work=kentucky.com |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/ex-cats/article201542039.html |access-date=July 23, 2023}}

Career statistics

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

=EuroLeague=

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| style="text-align:left;"| Anadolu Efes

| 26 || 12 || 23.0 || .475 || .444 || .944 || 3.7 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 7.3 || 9.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 26 || 12 || 23.0 || .475 || .444 || .944 || 3.7 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 7.3 || 9.0

{{S-end}}

=EuroCup=

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20

| style="text-align:left;"| ratiopharm Ulm

| 9 || 7 || 22.1 || .531 || .571 || .909 || 5.4 || 1.3 || .4 || .6 || 10.4 || 13.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22

| style="text-align:left;"| Badalona

| 17 || 13 || 23.1 || .532 || .417 || .667 || 5.6 || 1.5 || .9 || .4 || 9.0 || 12.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;"| Reyer Venezia

| 19 || 18 || 25.2 || .546 || .475 || .907 || 5.0 || 1.1 || .6 || .1 || 12.9 || 15.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 45 || 38 || 23.8 || .538 || .480 || .821 || 5.3 || 1.3 || .7 || .3 || 11.0 || 13.8

{{S-end}}

=Basketball Champions League=

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21

| style="text-align:left;"| Brindisi

| 10 || 10 || 24.1 || .567 || .476 || .862 || 5.3 || 1.6 || .8 || {{sort|-|—}} || 10.3

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 10 || 10 || 24.1 || .567 || .476 || .862 || 5.3 || 1.6 || .8 || {{sort|-|—}} || 10.3

{{S-end}}

=Domestic leagues=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"

! Year

! Team

! League

! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}

! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}

! {{Tooltip|FG%|Field goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|3P%|3-point field-goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free-throw percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}

! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}

! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}

! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}

! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA|size=20px}} Grand Rapids Gold || style="text-align:center;"|G League || 43 || 28.1 || .469 || .376 || .816 || 6.8 || .8 || 1.1 || .7 || 11.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Göttingen || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 34 || 23.8 || .486 || .425 || .806 || 5.0 || .6 || .8 || .7 || 12.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} ratiopharm Ulm || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 28 || 19.0 || .453 || .375 || .809 || 5.2 || 1.1 || .5 || .6 || 8.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Italy|size=20px}} Brindisi || style="text-align:center;"|LBA || 31 || 28.3 || .490 || .347 || .811 || 8.3 || 1.6 || .9 || .6 || 11.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Joventut Badalona || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 40 || 23.2 || .523 || .439 || .879 || 4.7 || 1.0 || .7 || .5 || 9.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Italy|size=20px}} Reyer Venezia || style="text-align:center;"|LBA || 34 || 24.5 || .514 || .455 || .871 || 5.2 || 1.4 || .5 || .3 || 9.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Anadolu Efes || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 25 || 25.4 || .578 || .432 || .946 || 4.7 || 1.2 || 1.0 || .5 || 10.4

{{S-end}}

=College=

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky

| 14 || 0 || 2.8 || .333 || .167 || .750 || .6 || {{sort|-|—}} || .1 || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky

| 19 || 0 || 3.9 || .389 || .333 || 1.000 || .7 || .3 || .1 || .2 || 1.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16

| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky

| 32 || 11 || 18.6 || .482 || .442 || .889 || 4.0 || .4 || .7 || .8 || 7.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky

| 38 || 15 || 21.9 || .478 || .377 || .688 || 5.4 || .9 || .7 || 1.0 || 7.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 103 || 26 || 15.0 || .473 || .399 || .802 || 3.4 || .5 || .5 || .6 || 5.4

{{S-end}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.ukathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=675 Kentucky Wildcats bio]
  • [http://basketball.usbasket.com/player/Derek_Willis/SEC/University-of-Kentucky/250545 Profile at eurobasket.com]

{{Anadolu Efes S.K. current roster}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willis, Derek}}

Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Turkey

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Anadolu Efes S.K. players

Category:Basketball players from Louisville, Kentucky

Category:BG Göttingen players

Category:Forwards (basketball)

Category:Grand Rapids Drive players

Category:Joventut Badalona players

Category:Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players

Category:Lega Basket Serie A players

Category:Native American basketball players

Category:New Basket Brindisi players

Category:Power forwards

Category:Ratiopharm Ulm players

Category:Reyer Venezia players

Category:United States men's national basketball team players