
- Name
- Derek Willis
- Position
- Forward
- Class
- SR
- Hometown (Last School)
- Mt. Washington, Ky. (Bullitt East)
- Ht
- 6'9
- Wt
- 220
- Seasons
- 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2013-14
- Birthday
- June 21, 1995
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2014-15 (SOPHOMORE): Made the SEC Academic Honor Roll for a second straight season … Averaged career highs in minutes per game (3.9), points per game (1.3) and rebounds (0.7) … Appeared in 19 games, recording four minutes or more in eight of them … Posted 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, both career highs … Scored in seven of his first eight appearances … Logged time in three of UK’s five NCAA Tournament games … Dished out two assists vs. Auburn in the SEC Tournament … Knocked down his only 3-point attempt of the day at home vs. Missouri … Scored three points, grabbed two rebounds and blocked a career-high three shots in 11 minutes vs. UCLA … Recorded five points and a rebound against Columbia, including the go-ahead free throw with 13:18 left in the game … Scored four points, dished out an assist and grabbed a rebound in the rout of UT Arlington … Grabbed a career-high five rebounds in a career-high 12 minutes in the win over Montana State … Scored five points , including a 3-point field goal on his only attempt, in the dominating victory of No. 5 Kansas.
2013-14 (FRESHMAN): Was named to the SEC Academic team … Appeared in 14 games as a freshman … Poured in 16 points and added eight rebounds … Scored a bucket and pulled down two rebounds in Kentucky’s win over Georgia … Hauled in a rebound in the win over Mississippi State … Tallied six points, draining four free throws, in Kentucky’s win over Robert Morris … Knocked down a three and three free throws in UK’s win over Northern Kentucky … Scored two points off free throws in collegiate debut vs. UNC Asheville … Averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in two UK exhibition victories … Totaled six points in 10 minutes of a win over Transylvania … Scored two points and added four rebounds in the win over Montevallo.
HIGH SCHOOL: Scored 17.4 points and hauled in 9.4 rebounds per game as a senior … Averaged 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds while leading his team to the Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena as a junior … Won two 6th Regional titles … The first player to commit to the 2013-14 class … Rivals has tabbed Willis as the No. 25 power forward, while Scout has him ranked at No. 27 … ESPNU Recruiting has rated him at No. 37 at his position … Appeared in the Derby Classic and the Kentucky-Indiana All-Stars games.
PERSONAL: Son of Trudy and Del Willis … Born June 21, 1995 in Louisville, Ky. … Chose Kentucky over Indiana, Louisville and Purdue.