Derrick Williams was drafted No. 2 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011 NBA Draft on Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Kyrie Irving was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Williams, a 6-foot-8, 241-pound forward from Arizona, averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds last season for the Wildcats. In addition, the sophomore standout shot 56.8 percent from three-point range and averaged one steal per contest at Arizona.
A long-awaited handshake with NBA commissioner David Stern culminates Derrick Williams' stunning two-year rise from little-known recruit to all-conference standout to NBA lottery pick. The Arizona standout is a high-character player with a good blend of skill and athleticism, and the chance to make an impact with the Timberwolves as soon as next season. The only question is whether his niche will be on the perimeter or in the paint. Williams has long insisted he'll play small forward in the NBA, but his lack of lateral quickness might make him ill-suited to defend pro wings. (via Jeff Eisenberg of The Dagger - Yahoo! Sports)
Here's a look at the top five picks in the 2011 NBA Draft.
- Cleveland Cavaliers - Kyrie Irving (PG - Duke)
- Minnesota Timberwolves - Derrick Williams (SF/PF - Arizona)
- Utah Jazz - Enes Kanter - (C/PF - Turkey)
- Cleveland Cavaliers - Tristan Thompson (SF - Texas)
- Toronto Raptors - Jonas Valanciunas (C - Lithuania)