Arizona Wildcats sophomore forward Derrick Williams is having an All-American season, averaging 19.8 points and 7.9 rebounds, shooting 62.7 percent from the field, 67.7 percent from 3-point range and averaging a Dunk of the Year about every five games.
He has led Arizona to a 17-4 record and second place in the Pac-10 at 6-2.
Imagine if he had never gotten out of his letter-of-intent to USC.
Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com recounts Williams’ under-the-radar high school career at La Mirada (Calif.) High in a story for the website today.
Writes Goodman:
When USC assistant coach Bob Cantu caught his first glimpse of Derrick Williams, it was purely by accident.
He was there to watch Renardo Sidney.
Williams put up 42.
Cantu then went to scout talented forward Tyler Honeycutt against Williams’ La Mirada (CA) High team.
Williams put up 40.
Cantu concluded the trifecta by attending a playoff game in which Williams went for 29 in a half and finished with more than 40 against Jordan Hamilton.
“I know he wasn’t there to see me,” Williams laughs. “But it ended up working out for me.”