Scale of 1-10, your Derek Willis confidence level

[Pobilly]

I will say this. Most say that a player develops most between year 1 and 2. That is true if you are becoming a part of the rotation. I think this year is going to be his year 2 and he will develop more. Too hard to read into a 21 year olds mind. Last year I do think he took most of the year off due to the platoon. Lee will be much better and so will Willis. Hawkins also will be improved. I think we have a great core group plus 3 great guys (so far) coming in with the possibility of 2 or so more coming in. I for one think Willis will be a contributor (not a major player in scheme) but a reliable player this year.

I will stick with this. Lee has not improved and much as I thought he would. Hawkins and Willis have improved.

[Joneslab]

When it was clear Skal was a project it doesn't surprise me that Willis is starting. He's played pretty well since game one. Somebody had to step in and fill the Skal void.

But it absolutely blows my mind that he's this team's best rebounder at this point. Totally shocking.

[Lighthouse]

When it was clear Skal was a project it doesn't surprise me that Willis is starting. He's played pretty well since game one. Somebody had to step in and fill the Skal void.

But it absolutely blows my mind that he's this team's best rebounder at this point. Totally shocking.

Me too. When I saw him play in HS, and his years at UK, he just didn't seem to have the strength to mix it up with other bigs. And he still doesn't move folks around, but he does it with hustle, and fight. His 3 pt shooting is still about what it was in HS, and he handles the ball very good to go along with a good passing game. Glad to see him doing good.

[teamchemistry15]

Have you any idea what you've done, man?!

No no. He is the kid in class who kept throwing pencils at the ceiling and after four years one finally stuck.

[jpay]

I have always thought Willis was a better NBA prospect than Witjer.
His play really doesn't surprise me that much. I think has seen his window of opportunity..
I sincerely hope he maximizes his efforts. The young man has skills.
No one can give you confidence but you..

[85 Fly]

I'm giving him a 5... there is an upside to his game, he's getting there with more time to show what he is capable of.

[ColonelCatFan]

Where's JWorld's "I told you so" post? I've always thought Willis had a lot that he wasn't showing us, its great to see it now. 1-10, I say 8. The sleeping giant has awoken.

[teamchemistry15]

I am sure I am not the only one willing to say I am glad I am eating crow on this one. I think I gave Willis a one before the season. He is definitely a pleasant surprise and a valuable contributor.

[J.Jennings]

Where's JWorld's "I told you so" post? I've always thought Willis had a lot that he wasn't showing us, its great to see it now. 1-10, I say 8. The sleeping giant has awoken.

There's a reason why i can take photos like this lol lol lol lol. Not in the business but know alot of people who are lol lol lol

[J.Jennings]

Me too. When I saw him play in HS, and his years at UK, he just didn't seem to have the strength to mix it up with other bigs. And he still doesn't move folks around, but he does it with hustle, and fight. His 3 pt shooting is still about what it was in HS, and he handles the ball very good to go along with a good passing game. Glad to see him doing good.

Just to be clear, not about to compare D. Willis to Anthony Davis. However,Anthony Davis his sophomore and junior year of high school was basically a skinny pg/sg/sf with passing and handling skills. Rewind back to Willis in high school and you have a tall skinny kid who can play point and handle the ball. Once A. Davis hit his growth spurt, it was all about learning how to play post and shoot the basketball while developing a stronger body. At 6'9, D. Willis is in the same boat as Davis.....

I know folks thinks it's crazythat Willis would ever really see time at Kentucky but to be honest, D. Willis is very similar to the modern day NBA player. Guys who can run, shoot, handle the ball, pass, and do a number of things. If Willis can learn how to play defense and get stronger, he may have a shot playing at the next level on the right team. Can you imagine Willis getting drafted by the Spurs and learning under POP a few years?????


Bottomline, many folks missed the boat on Willis. They only saw a local skinny kid who should settle and only be happy just to be on the UK team. I thought Willis needed to add strenght but i have always liked his skill set for a kid his size............

[Joneslab]

Davis is a seven foot genetic freak unlike anything we've ever seen at Kentucky. He's nothing like Willis.

Willis is a stretch four who's much more similar to somebody like Trey Lyles.

What he has going for him that I don't think anybody saw is that he can play mean. Somehow a switch flipped and he's just playing angry. It's given him confidence to take tough shots, and at his size he can get clean looks. But it's also helped him get in there and dig out rebounds that nobody on this team except Poythress can really get.

Nobody is more instrumental this team's "turnaround"--if it is really that--than Willis has been.

[teamchemistry15]

Just to be clear, not about to compare D. Willis to Anthony Davis. However,Anthony Davis his sophomore and junior year of high school was basically a skinny pg/sg/sf with passing and handling skills. Rewind back to Willis in high school and you have a tall skinny kid who can play point and handle the ball. Once A. Davis hit his growth spurt, it was all about learning how to play post and shoot the basketball while developing a stronger body. At 6'9, D. Willis is in the same boat as Davis.....

I know folks thinks it's crazythat Willis would ever really see time at Kentucky but to be honest, D. Willis is very similar to the modern day NBA player. Guys who can run, shoot, handle the ball, pass, and do a number of things. If Willis can learn how to play defense and get stronger, he may have a shot playing at the next level on the right team. Can you imagine Willis getting drafted by the Spurs and learning under POP a few years?????


Bottomline, many folks missed the boat on Willis. They only saw a local skinny kid who should settle and only be happy just to be on the UK team. I thought Willis needed to add strenght but i have always liked his skill set for a kid his size............

Never mention Davis and Willis in the same sentence again.

I think some people judged him on being a skinny white kid, yes. But I was very familiar with him coming out of high school. He went to school about 20 minutes from me so I attended quite a few of his games. Him and my cousin are close friends so I have met him a handful of times as well. He never had the mentality that made me expect he could have that mean streak in him like Will said. He certainly didn't have it in high school. He also isn't THAT good of a ball handler. Sure, he can bring it up the court if needed or run a fast break, but what swing man in college can't do that? He is an average ball handler.

Where he is effective is being able to open up the floor by drawing the other team''s 4 out towards the three point line. That opens up the middle for Ulis and Briscoe to drive and kick. He is an athletic stretch four who plays with energy and needs to bulk up. He will have to be a 3 in the NBA and I don't think he is there yet. He either needs to add 20 lbs or severely work on his defense. Right now he is a very effective college player.

[Joneslab]

Still a bad defensive player one-on-one. He can hold his own if he really gives max effort, but guys blow by him at a pretty good clip. That needs to be worked on before he could ever think about competing at the NBA level.

But if you're that size, can hit outside shots with some consistency, and will get in there and mix it up you've got a chance to play in the league. Would like to see him come back and be sort of a Darius Miller figure next year, where he would come into the game and there'll be no drop-off from these monstrosities who are coming in.

Willis, Skal, and Briscoe would be pretty nice coming off the bench for next year's team.

[teamchemistry15]

Still a bad defensive player one-on-one. He can hold his own if he really gives max effort, but guys blow by him at a pretty good clip. That needs to be worked on before he could ever think about competing at the NBA level.

But if you're that size, can hit outside shots with some consistency, and will get in there and mix it up you've got a chance to play in the league. Would like to see him come back and be sort of a Darius Miller figure next year, where he would come into the game and there'll be no drop-off from these monstrosities who are coming in.

Willis, Skal, and Briscoe would be pretty nice coming off the bench for next year's team.

If only! I think Skal leaves unless he won't be drafted, but I don't think it matters how bad he plays someone will take a chance on him. If the season ended today I think we lose Skal, Murray, and maybe Ulis. If Briscoe keeps hitting the mid range jumper like he has recently I think he is gone as well. Hopefully one of our guards comes back, particularly Ulis. I don't think his draft stock will get much higher or lower, and he may want to stick around to get a title. The main question would be is does Fox come off the bench if Ulis returns?

[Joneslab]

Also think Skal goes. Believe Ulis will go because his stock (I hate that cliché) isn't going to get any higher, and he's probably always going to be a second-rounder.

Think Briscoe might come back. If he does he'd likely start alongside Fox and Monk in the backcourt.