Derek Willis

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Derek Willis
File:Derek Willis 35 Paris Basketball Euroleague 20251001 (1).jpg
Willis with Paris Basketball in 2025
No. 35 – Paris Basketball
PositionPower forward
LeagueLNB Élite
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1995-06-21) June 21, 1995 (age 30)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolBullitt East
(Mount Washington, Kentucky)
CollegeKentucky (2013–2017)
NBA draft2017: undrafted
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2018Grand Rapids Drive
2018–2019Göttingen
2019–2020Ratiopharm Ulm
2020–2021Brindisi
2021–2022Badalona
2022–2023Venezia
2023–2025Anadolu Efes
2025–presentParis Basketball
Career highlights
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Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
File:Derek Willis.jpg

Derek Xavier Willis (born June 21, 1995) is an American basketball player for Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Early life

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Willis is one of a relatively small number of Native Americans who have played in NCAA Division I basketball. His mother is a member of three tribes—Southern Arapaho, Pawnee, and Muscogee. Although born in Louisville, Kentucky, he lived with his family for several years during his childhood on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. According to Fox Sports writer Reid Forgrave, "His favorite childhood memories are from that reservation." The family eventually returned to the Louisville area, settling in the city of Mount Washington.[1]

High school career

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As a 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m), 200-pound (91 kg) senior at Bullitt East High School, Willis averaged 17.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

College career

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Willis was the first player to commit to Kentucky's 2013–14 recruiting class,[2] choosing UK over Indiana, Louisville and Purdue.[3] He appeared in 103 games over his four-year career with the Wildcats, turning in averages of 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest, while making 108 of his 271 shots taken from three-point territory in his college career. Willis won the SEC tournament with the Wildcats in 2015, 2016 and 2017, advancing to the NCAA Final Four in 2015. He proposed to his girlfriend on senior night, prior to Kentucky's home game against Vanderbilt.[4]

In April 2017, he attended the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, Virginia.[5]

Professional career

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Grand Rapids Drive (2017–2018)

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After going undrafted, Willis was signed by the Detroit Pistons of the NBA as a part of their training camp roster,[6] before being reassigned to the Pistons' G League affiliate Grand Rapids Drive.[7] In his professional debut on November 3, 2017, he provided the game-winning tip-in in Grand Rapids' 86–85 victory over the Erie BayHawks.[8] Making 43 G League appearances (38 starts) as a first-year player, Willis averaged 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest.[9]

BG Göttingen (2018–2019)

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In late July 2018, Willis inked a deal with BG Göttingen of the German Basketball Bundesliga.[10] He saw action in 34 Bundesliga games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest for the Violets.[11]

Ratiopharm Ulm (2019–2020)

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On July 22, 2019, he signed a two-year deal with German Bundesliga outfit Ratiopharm Ulm, known as the Sparrows.[12] Willis averaged 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during the 2019–20 season.[13]

Happy Casa Brindisi (2020–2021)

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On July 17, 2020, he signed with Happy Casa Brindisi of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[14]

Club Joventut Badalona (2021–2022)

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On July 14, 2021, Willis signed with Club Joventut Badalona of the Liga ACB.[15]

Reyer Venezia (2022–2023)

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On July 13, 2022, Willis signed with Reyer Venezia of the Lega Basket Serie A.[16] He averaged 12.9 points and 5 rebounds in the EuroCup, along with 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in the domestic league.

Anadolu Efes (2023–2025)

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On June 25, 2023, Willis signed a two-year (1+1) contract with Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes.

Paris Basketball (2023–2025)

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On July 4, 2025, he signed with Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A.[17]

International career

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Willis was a member of the US team that competed at the 2012 Albert Schweitzer Tournament.[18] In February 2018, he was named to the USA squad for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers.[19]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance index rating
 Bold  Career high

EuroLeague

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2023–24 Anadolu Efes 26 12 23.0 .475 .444 .944 3.7 .8 .6 .3 7.3 9.0
Career 26 12 23.0 .475 .444 .944 3.7 .8 .6 .3 7.3 9.0

EuroCup

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2019–20 ratiopharm Ulm 9 7 22.1 .531 .571 .909 5.4 1.3 .4 .6 10.4 13.1
2021–22 Badalona 17 13 23.1 .532 .417 .667 5.6 1.5 .9 .4 9.0 12.9
2022–23 Reyer Venezia 19 18 25.2 .546 .475 .907 5.0 1.1 .6 .1 12.9 15.0
Career 45 38 23.8 .538 .480 .821 5.3 1.3 .7 .3 11.0 13.8

Basketball Champions League

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Brindisi 10 10 24.1 .567 .476 .862 5.3 1.6 .8 — 10.3
Career 10 10 24.1 .567 .476 .862 5.3 1.6 .8 — 10.3

Domestic leagues

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Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 United States Grand Rapids Gold G League 43 28.1 .469 .376 .816 6.8 .8 1.1 .7 11.8
2018–19 Germany Göttingen BBL 34 23.8 .486 .425 .806 5.0 .6 .8 .7 12.0
2019–20 Germany ratiopharm Ulm BBL 28 19.0 .453 .375 .809 5.2 1.1 .5 .6 8.6
2020–21 Italy Brindisi LBA 31 28.3 .490 .347 .811 8.3 1.6 .9 .6 11.0
2021–22 Spain Joventut Badalona ACB 40 23.2 .523 .439 .879 4.7 1.0 .7 .5 9.6
2022–23 Italy Reyer Venezia LBA 34 24.5 .514 .455 .871 5.2 1.4 .5 .3 9.8
2023–24 Turkey Anadolu Efes TBSL 25 25.4 .578 .432 .946 4.7 1.2 1.0 .5 10.4

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 Kentucky 14 0 2.8 .333 .167 .750 .6 — .1 — 1.1
2014–15 Kentucky 19 0 3.9 .389 .333 1.000 .7 .3 .1 .2 1.3
2015–16 Kentucky 32 11 18.6 .482 .442 .889 4.0 .4 .7 .8 7.7
2016–17 Kentucky 38 15 21.9 .478 .377 .688 5.4 .9 .7 1.0 7.0
Career 103 26 15.0 .473 .399 .802 3.4 .5 .5 .6 5.4

References

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