Willis leaving?

Blueathletics

All-Conference
Dec 21, 2007
4,955
3,577
0
Heard this late yesterday but was waiting to see if any info came out first before asking

Anybody....?
 

BigBlueFanGA

Heisman
Jun 14, 2005
26,435
23,456
0
Cal said he expects no transfers. I hope he doesn't leave but who could blame him when he is recruited over each year.
 

wildcatdonf

Hall of Famer
Sep 26, 2003
78,022
128,835
0
Originally posted by Blueathletics:
Heard this late yesterday but was waiting to see if any info came out first before asking

Anybody....?
Just a question. Where did you hear this?
 

blubo

Heisman
Oct 14, 2014
22,273
85,181
78
Originally posted by Blueathletics:
Heard this late yesterday but was waiting to see if any info came out first before asking

Anybody....?


i heard it too from a reliable source. the sa spurs covet him highly and will make him their lone objective in the draft and will spare no expense including the trade off of one or more of their established stars to get him. let the bidding begin.
 

buck8113

All-Conference
Feb 20, 2010
3,492
1,126
0
put it to rest he IS NOT TRANSFERING PERIOD......................................................
 

zcats

Heisman
May 29, 2001
39,033
42,114
98
He is a pretty talented kid. Skinny but quick and has great hands. Can shoot. Very interesting player to my old eyes.
 

TruBluCatFan

Heisman
Dec 21, 2001
19,339
10,170
113
I hear people using the term "recruited over" a lot like its a bad thing. Never understood that. Aren't coaches supposed to get the best they can every year?
Posted from Rivals Mobile
 

Jeremy D

Redshirt
Dec 20, 2009
127
46
0
That would be like being at a party, and having your eye on a beautiful woman all night and you can't seem to get her by herself. But once everyone is heading towards the exit, and she is all alone,you leave yourself. Just doesn't make much sense.
 

Graves51

Junior
Feb 27, 2014
4,360
277
0
I want to see him play because I think he has enormous potential! I really don't care if he plays for Kentucky or not, he needs to PLAY somewhere.
 

ville 77

Redshirt
Jul 15, 2013
1,045
41
0
The best I can tell WIllis really has 2 choices.

#1 he can return to UK and hope Cal gives him to playing time but more likely Cal will recruit over him and he will once again be a role player at best. IF he does this he would be smart to take some extra classes and make sure he can graduate from UK by next summer. That way he can transfer to another school for his senior year and play right away.

#2 He can just assume that h will see little playing time again and transfer now and sit out to have 2 years to play at another school.


One thing for sure is you can bet that back channels are reminding him about UK being up 35 in the WV game and Cal giving him less than a minute of PT. I always thought he was not talented enough to play regular minutes at UK and Cal would recruit over him every year and so far that is the case but you never know. I guess the other side of the story is WIllis has two final 4 rings and that is nice to have.
 

westerncat

Heisman
Feb 19, 2012
15,923
20,891
0
Originally posted by Blueathletics:
Heard this late yesterday but was waiting to see if any info came out first before asking

Anybody....?

I think you got him mixed up with UL players...........their the ones that are leaving.
 

KingOfBBN

Heisman
Sep 14, 2013
39,077
38,403
0
I've thought a lot about his situation and asked myself what would I do. First off, above all else, you want to actually play more than anything. That is the most important. However...you have a few choices.


1) Continue to ride the bench and do nothing in the Jon Hood type sense and get a comfy job simply because you played ball at Kentucky.

2) Roll the dice and hope you can get some PT which doesn't seem likely.

3) Go to a D1 program where you can actually play and contribute
 
Feb 8, 2015
207
62
0
Heisman you are not taking into consideration that Derek Willis has fallen in love with a girl at school and can't put his head into the game. He is fine where he is because of his girlfriend, and if he decides to actually work at his game this summer and next year he could easily find himself in the minutes.

He isn't going anywhere, stop listening to idiots.
 

AnarchoNeoLuddite_rivals

All-Conference
Dec 14, 2003
15,806
4,814
0
Originally posted by zcats:
He is a pretty talented kid. Skinny but quick and has great hands. Can shoot. Very interesting player to my old eyes.
Sorry but uhh... where and when have your old eyes seen enough of him to come up with that conclusion?
 

*Bleedingblue*

Heisman
Mar 5, 2009
40,885
32,842
113
After seeing both Hood and Willis, Willis is much more talented. If he was given the chance at say Wisconsin you guys would be saying how could we have missed out on this Dekker clone who was from Ky.
 

akaukswoosh

Hall of Famer
Jan 14, 2006
80,593
123,643
93
Kaminsky averaged 4 ppg as a sophomore at Wisconsin.
Don't think Willis is the next Kaminsky LOL but if he wants it enough Willis can help us next year.
 

IdaCat

Heisman
May 8, 2004
68,882
33,507
113
Originally posted by SaguaroCat:
"Heard this" = pulled out of my f ing ***.
or one of his friends/family pulled it out of their *** and told him.

OP, don't say you heard something without saying who you heard it from. Spare people having to ask.

If your source isn't legit, don't start one of these dumbass rumor threads.


This post was edited on 4/9 12:28 AM by IdaCat
 

Bryant 50

Redshirt
Nov 27, 2004
1,469
2
0
Willis, has an upside, IMO. He's long and athletic enough to contribute. He needs to build confidence in his shot and ball handling. I don't ever see him starting over any of the burger boys, but he's an asset for sure. I believe Willis is exactly where he wants to be. If he works hard enough....he'll see some PT.

This post was edited on 4/9 12:46 AM by Bryant 50
 

jwheat

Heisman
Aug 21, 2005
97,626
24,206
42
Some of you just need to accept that the reason Derek doesnt get off the bench is because he isnt in the gym like the rest of them. Until he gets his head out of his girlfriends butt he will continue to be Jon Hood
 

KMKAT

All-Conference
Sep 17, 2003
94,731
2,957
50
Willis has alot fo proving to do from the little I have read.

if he's satisfied with walk-on minutes, ok.

Cal wants to know he's the hardest worker in the group to give him minutes over McD-AAs.

He's a kid you want to root for, but you can't unless he's willing to put in the work.

Kinda sounds like Wiltjer 2.0 to me.
 

sefus12

Heisman
Dec 22, 2007
7,099
18,906
103
How dare anyone enjoy being a UK basketball player (apparently he's doing plenty for Cal to still be giving him a scholly) AND enjoy being a college student at the same time!?!?!
 

Graves51

Junior
Feb 27, 2014
4,360
277
0
If he wants to play 1-2 minutes every now and then, with the walk-ons, and be a Kentucky Wildcat that's great. But if next year turns out like this year then I won't worry one second or think hes not getting his chance. The handwriting is on the wall!
 

jwheat

Heisman
Aug 21, 2005
97,626
24,206
42
Im not bashing the kid for enjoying his time in blue and white. I am bashing the posters that expect he get the minutes of players that work their butt off in the gym and not ride around with their girlfriend all night
 

3rex

Senior
Nov 3, 2002
10,278
804
0
I haven't hear anything about him leaving either, at least from any reliable sources.

I do find it funny that while several in the thread admonish the OP for advancing rumors, they also tell us that Willis doesn't work hard, is never in the gym, has hid head up his girlfriends butt, etc.

I guess it's just the rumors you don't like are the only ones you won't advance.
 

ZZBlueComet

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2009
46,206
2,148
0
It amazes me how people can watch Willis hit a few threes in a blue-white pickup, no-defense, practice and think he's UK talent. IMO, he'll ride the pin the next two seasons.
 

Ben101er

Heisman
Apr 21, 2004
25,560
60,150
103
I think his game has really improved, over the last couple of years. That is what happens when you practice against NBA talent. If he will give a little more intensity, in practice, and cut down some foolish turnovers that he is prone to make, he will definitely play some this year, and could really help us. This is especially true if we do not sign a good small forward. His shooting could really make a difference, next year.
 

TJ-Cat

Junior
Mar 13, 2009
345
349
63
Originally posted by ZZBlueComet:

It amazes me how people can watch Willis hit a few threes in a blue-white pickup, no-defense, practice and think he's UK talent. IMO, he'll ride the pin the next two seasons.
I think it is more to do with desire and work ethic. Jorts had talent and combined that with hard work to be a starter. Willis certainly has enough talent, if he works hard enough I am confident he can be a solid contributor. Talent is over-rated to a degree, all the talent in the world without desire is worthless, but just average talent combined with desire and hard work can lead to greatness.
 

coolcat9lives

Junior
Apr 1, 2013
733
237
0
Originally posted by ThroughBlue:

Im not bashing the kid for enjoying his time in blue and white. I am bashing the posters that expect he get the minutes of players that work their butt off in the gym and not ride around with their girlfriend all night

ThroughBlue you seem to really have a problem with Willis having a girlfriend. How do you know he "rides around with his girlfriend all night"
 

Chuckinden

All-American
Jun 12, 2006
18,995
5,915
113
If he does stay and gets PT, he will be blasted by most on this board everytime he misses a shot or makes a mistake. The deck is already stacked against him in that regard.

IMO, he would be better off going the Wiltjer route and get out of town.
 
Apr 1, 2011
4,236
813
66
Originally posted by ThroughBlue:

Some of you just need to accept that the reason Derek doesnt get off the bench is because he isnt in the gym like the rest of them. Until he gets his head out of his girlfriends butt he will continue to be Jon Hood
This. I don't know about the gf stuff.

But Willis even said in a pre-game interview earlier this year that he isn't working hard enough and needs to refocus. That's not speculation...it was straight out of his own mouth. He also said, when asked by Tipton if he would leave, that he was here 4 years no matter what. Can't remember which preface presser it was, but you could go find it on coachcal.com If you wanted.


Cal rewards hard work. Until he is willing to put in that work, he isn't going to be playing much.
 

jwheat

Heisman
Aug 21, 2005
97,626
24,206
42
Originally posted by coolcat9lives:

Originally posted by ThroughBlue:

Im not bashing the kid for enjoying his time in blue and white. I am bashing the posters that expect he get the minutes of players that work their butt off in the gym and not ride around with their girlfriend all night

ThroughBlue you seem to really have a problem with Willis having a girlfriend. How do you know he "rides around with his girlfriend all night"
Derek Willis having a girlfriend couldn't bother me any less. Derek Willis' fan club wanting him to play over ANYONE at this point does bother me though.