Arizona’s Williams wasn’t a top 150 recruit, but he’s a freshman All-American
by Anthony Gimino on Mar. 08, 2010, under Sports
Derrick Williams, Sporting News Freshman All-American
Photo by WildcatSportsReport.com
In what is sure to be the beginning of postseason honors for him, Arizona forward Derrick Williams has been selected to the Sporting News All-Freshman team.
He joins guard John Wall and center DeMarcus Cousins of Kentucky, guard Xavier Henry of Kansas and forward Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech.
Williams was actually the least heralded of Arizona’s five freshmen this season. (As I wrote last month, Williams wasn’t even in Rivals.com’s top 150 recruits).
“I really didn’t know what to expect from Derrick,” UA coach Sean Miller said last week.
“It became apparent that he was very talented. He is a really soft-spoken kid. He’s a fantastic kid who wants to do well and do the things you ask him. His talent far exceeded our expectations.”
Williams averaged 15.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in the regular season, shooting 58.8 percent from the field. He averaged 16.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in Pac-10 games.
Williams has four double-doubles.
He is a near-lock to be a first-team All-Pac-10 selection after being eighth in the league in scoring, fourth in rebounding and fourth in field goal percentage in the regular season.
“In large part, any success we’ve had this season, whether it be a long time ago in Maui or some of our toughest non-conference games, certainly inside the Pac-10 he’s answered in such a big way,” Miller said recently.
“I’ll also say that the reality for our team, as great as Derrick’s been, this is a year of learning defensively. He’s had his rough moments on that side of the ball, perhaps more than on offense. It’s one of those things that sometimes you live with because of the role that he has on this year’s team, but for me to say anything other than Derrick has been extraordinary, would be a misrepresentation of what he’s done this season.”
More coverage from the TucsonCitizen.com Sports Network:
WildAboutAZCats.com: UA swept by last-place team for first time in Pac-10 history
UASports.net: Streak or die
AG’s Wildcat Report: UA hoops notes and poll: Cats in good half of the bracket?
