Hot! Derrick Williams

10 Questions with Derrick Williams

General: The 6-foot-8 forward was Arizona's most eye-opening player in 2009-10 . UA's leader in scoring (15.7 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg) and field goal percentage (.574) . He is just the sixth player - and first freshman - to lead the Cats in all three categories in the same year in the era of freshman eligibility (since 1972-73) . High basketball IQ allows him to effectively operate inside and on the perimeter, where an improved jumper would greatly benefit a player already explosive around the basket . One of four Arizona players with the surname of Williams to earn all-Pac-10 honors (Pete, 1984 and 1985; Brian, 1991; Marcus, 2007).

Freshman (2009-10): The 2010 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (sixth UA player to earn the distinction) and a first-team all-Pac-10 selection, just the 16th freshman conference-wide to claim first-team honors since the league expanded to 10 teams in 1978-79 . Named a freshman All-American by The Sporting News and collegeinsider.com . An NABC second-team all-District 20 pick . Had four consecutive 20-point games from Jan. 14-28 . Tied for team lead with two games of 25 or more points . Had nine games with 20 or more points and four double-doubles . Ended the regular season ranked seventh in the Pac-10 in scoring (15.7), sixth in rebounding (7.1), fourth in FG percentage (.574/12th nationally), third in defensive rebounds (4.9) and eighth in offensive rebounds (2.2) . Collected 14 points and eight rebounds on 3/11 vs. UCLA in Pac-10 Tournament . Posted second straight double-double (18 pts./11 reb.) on 3/6 vs. USC in a season-best 40 minutes . Notched his third double-double with 12 points and 11 boards vs. UCLA on 3/4 . His block of a dunk attempt with five seconds to go ignited the game winning buzzer beater by Lamont Jones on 2/27 at Stanford, where he hit 8-of-10 shots and finished with 24 points and six rebounds . Collected 17 points and six rebounds on 2/25 at California . Posted 15 points and an assist on 2/21 vs. Arizona State . Recorded his eighth 20-point game of the season to go with a season-best three assists and two steals on 2/11 vs. Oregon . Registered 16 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals on 2/6 at Washington State . Posted his second career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds vs. California on 1/31 . Tallied 23 points and eight rebounds vs. Stanford on 1/28 . Hit 7-of-10 FGs to finish with 20 points, six boards and an assist on 1/23 at Arizona State . Averaged 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds, while shooting .636 (14-of-22) from the field in games at Oregon State and Oregon 1/14-16 . Notched his first career double-double with game-high totals of 20 points and 13 rebounds at Oregon on 1/16 . Collected 20 points and a game-high seven rebounds (5 OR) on 1/14 at Oregon State . Tallied 12 points and a season-high nine rebounds (equaled five times) vs. Washington on 1/10 . Registered 16 points, nine rebounds and a block on 1/2 at UCLA . Hit 11-of-12 FTs to go with eight boards and two steals on 12/31 at USC . Posted team-high totals of 17 points and seven rebounds vs. BYU on 12/28 . Registered 24 points and six rebounds on 12/23 vs. North Carolina State, finishing with season highs of 10 FGs and two blocks . Totaled 13 points and a season-high nine boards in 33 minutes vs. Lipscomb on 12/21 . Four of season-best nine boards were offensive to go with 13 points on 12/12 at San Diego State . Scored all 11 points vs. Louisiana Tech in the second half on 12/9 . Hit 4-of-5 FGs and finished with 11 points and six boards on 12/6 at Oklahoma . Notched a career-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go with five rebounds on 12/2 vs. UNLV . Set a school record with 21 FT attempts (13 made) on 11/23 vs. Wisconsin, finishing with 25 points, eight boards and a block . Totaled 10 points (5-10 FG), six boards, two assists and two steals vs. Rice on 11/19. High School: Ranked as the No. 72 overall prospect in the country and the No. 25 power forward by rivals.com to go with a scout grade of 92 by ESPN . Another in the long list of Southern California prep standouts to trek to Tucson . Averaged 25.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game and shot 40 percent from three-point range for coach Larry Kaupang . Helped the Matadors to a 21-9 record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section playoffs . Named second team Best of the West by the Long Beach Press-Telegram . Earned Player-of-the-Year honors from the Los Angeles Daily News all-area squad . 2009 Suburban League Player of the Year . A first-team all-state selection and the CIF 2A Player of the Year . In three games against high school teams with top-30 recruits, Williams scored 39, 41 and 33 (37.7 ppg) points . Announced his arrival on the recruiting scene at the 2008 Pangos All-American Camp, where he earned all-star honors and competed in the "Cream of the Crop" game, while also participating in the Double Pump West Coast All-Star Camp. Derrick Williams ' Honors

2009-10

Sporting News all-Freshman team First Team all-Pac-10 Conference Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Pac-10 all-Freshman team Second team NABC all-District 20 collegeinsider.com freshman All-America team