Photo from MinnesotaTimberwolves.com

Former Arizona Wildcat forward Derrick Williams is no longer No. 23.

The second pick in the NBA Draft was introduced today at a news conference in Minneapolis, where he was handed a jersey with the number 7.

“I wanted to keep a single digit number. I didn’t want to get number 23 anymore,” he said in a one-on-one interview with a member of the team’s official web site.

“I felt like that’s Jordan’s number. I just wanted to something different. I’m in a different league now and I just wanted to start fresh and start all over.”

In addition to a video (and transcript) of the one-on-one interview, this link to the official site also has video of part of Williams’ larger session with the media.

And here’s one more thing: NBA video has an all-access look at Williams on draft day.

Still want more on Derrick Williams? Here is a clip from part of his interview Wednesday as some of the top prospects were made available in New York City.

Washington State's Klay Thompson shoots over Arizona's Kyle Fogg last season at McKale Center. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Stealing this list from the Arizona Republic’s Doug Haller, eight players from the Pac-10 (going back to when the league was the Pac-8), have been selected within the top two picks of the NBA Draft.

They are:

Lew Alcindor (UCLA, 1969), Sidney Wicks (UCLA, 1971), Bill Walton (UCLA, 1974), David Meyers (UCLA, 1975), Dave Greenwood (UCLA, 1979), Gary Payton (Oregon State, 1990), Jason Kidd (California, 1994) and Mike Bibby (Arizona, 1998).

Arizona’s Derrick Williams is hoping to join that very fine list on Thursday.

Beyond Williams, it could be a decent draft for the Pac-10, with Washington State guard Klay Thompson and USC’s Nikola Vucevic potentially going in the top half of the first round.

A pair of UCLA players, wing Tyler Honeycutt and guard Malcolm Lee, are two draft wild-cards — talented, but not polished by any means. Washington point guard Isaiah Thomas, only 5-foot-10, figures to be second-round material.

(more…)

Worth shouting about: Derrick Williams is expected to be one of the top two picks in the NBA Draft. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Can Derrick Williams be a small forward in the NBA? Can he shoot the NBA 3-pointer? Can he defend?

Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller says he has little doubt that Williams can, over time, do whatever he wants to on the basketball court. It’s when you add that skill to his personality and character that you really have something.

“My advice to him has always been, ‘Don’t change who you are,’” Miller said in an interview with TucsonCitizen.com on Wednesday.

“That’s his greatest gift. He’s a great teammate. People are going to love the fact that he’s part of their organization. That humble approach has worked for him, and Derrick is always going to follow that script.”

Miller’s advice to Williams applies now and always — because everything else around the 20-year-old is about to change. Money. Fame. Pressure. Business. Hangers-on who don’t have his best interests at heart.

(more…)

The NBA posted this video to YouTube on Tuesday, giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse as Arizona Wildcats forward Derrick Williams watched the draft lottery and went through workouts to get ready for Thursday’s draft.

If you’d prefer to read than watch (or if you wanted to do both), check out this profile of Williams from the Los Angeles Times’ Baxter Holmes.

In the feature he quotes an NBA scout as saying that Williams “is going to cause havoc on the offensive end.”

Baxter writes that Williams’ “defense and rebounding are potential weak spots. On average, Williams grabbed one rebound every 3.6 minutes last season. For his size, he should be closer to grabbing one every three minutes, the scout says.”

One more tidbit from that story: Ex-Cat Luke Walton recently offered this piece of advice via text message to the soon-to-be-millionaire: “Don’t spend your money.”

Derrick Williams will be jamming in the NBA next season. Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

It’s NBA Draft week. On Thursday, forward Derrick Williams could be the first Arizona Wildcat to be chosen No. 1 overall, although indications are that the Cleveland Cavaliers will opt for Duke point guard Kyrie Irving instead.

If that happens, it seems likely the Minnesota Timberwolves will take Williams at No. 2. That will match where ex-Cat Mike Bibby was selected in the 1998 draft.

Arizona coach Sean Miller is expected to travel with Williams to the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., for the draft, which begins at 4 p.m. Tucson time on ESPN. Williams is one of 15 prospects who have been invited to attend the draft.

To get you ready, here is a sampling of the latest on Williams:

* * *

From Pac-12 Insider column of the Arizona Republic’s Doug Haller comes this quote on Williams from ESPN analyst Jay Bilas:

“The way I look at it, he’s going to be able to score in the NBA. I don’t think there’s any question about that.

“I just question whether he’s going to be able to guard effectively in the league. I would call him an inattentive defender. He saved some games with some spectacular blocks, but he was not a tentative weakside defender. Not a particularly good on-ball defender. … He’s got the tools to be a good defender, (but) he did not defend while he was at Arizona.”

Read more of the Pac-12 Insider at azcentral.com.

(more…)

Will Derrick Williams be back for more celebrations with his Arizona teammates? Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.

Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller expects sophomore forward Derrick Williams to make a decision about his future later rather than sooner.

“Derrick is moving through it like I anticipated him doing,” Miller said at a news conference Thursday to wrap up the season.

By that, Miller meant that Williams is being methodical, gathering information, relying on a small circle of people that includes his mother and sister.

“I would anticipate that the decision would be more toward the deadline of April 24 than two days from now,” Miller said.

“With Derrick … it’s about giving him the space and time. Thank god he’s not a guy who can’t wait to leave Tucson. He loves college. He loves the fans. He really enjoys playing as a part of our program.”

(more…)