If you were sitting in the upper deck of Rupp Arena circa 2016, you probably saw a guy who looked like a walking art gallery hitting threes from the corner. Derek Willis was that guy. But for a lot of fans, the memory of Derek Willis UK basketball is just "the local kid who could shoot."
Honestly? That’s barely scratching the surface.
Most people don’t realize how close Willis came to being another "what if" story. He wasn't some five-star lock who walked into a starting role. He was the first commit in the 2013 class, sure, but he spent two full years essentially glued to the bench. In a program like Kentucky, where the "one-and-done" culture was at its peak under John Calipari, a kid from Mt. Washington staying four years is already a miracle. Willis didn't just stay; he became the tactical skeleton key that unlocked some of the most exciting offenses of the Calipari era.
The Stretch Four Revolution
Before Derek Willis, the "stretch four" at Kentucky was a bit of a myth. Calipari loved his "bruisers"—guys like Dakari Johnson or Julius Randle who would eat you alive in the paint. Then 2015-16 happened.
The Wildcats had a backcourt that was, frankly, terrifying. Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray were destroying teams, but they needed space. When Willis finally cracked the rotation as a junior, everything changed. He wasn't just a shooter; he was a 6-foot-9 problem. Because he could hit 44% of his threes (better than Murray that year, by the way), opposing big men had to leave the paint to guard him.
Suddenly, Ulis had a runway to the rim.
It’s easy to look at his career average of 5.4 points and think he was a role player. He was. But he was a lethal role player. In the 2016 SEC Tournament, his late trey against Texas A&M helped seal the title. He finished his career 12th on Kentucky’s all-time list for three-point percentage at .3985. Not bad for a guy who couldn't get on the floor for two years.
More Than Just a "Local Kid"
One thing that often gets glossed over in the Derek Willis UK basketball narrative is his heritage. Derek is one of the very few Native American players to ever suit up for a Blue Blood program. His mother, Trudy, is a member of the Southern Arapaho, Pawnee, and Muscogee tribes.
He didn't just "have" this background; he lived it.
He spent years of his childhood on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. If you ever wondered about the massive owl on his chest or the headdress on his shoulder, those aren't just random tattoos. They’re a tribute to a culture he felt was "slowly dying off."
Willis was—and is—deeply individualistic. While other recruits were chasing the "clout" of the recruitment process, Willis famously hated it. He played Yu-Gi-Oh! competitively. He listened to death metal. He was a guy who felt more comfortable with the "nerds" than the popular athletes. This wasn't some PR-friendly "student-athlete" persona. He was just Derek.
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The Professional Pivot
What happened after the blue jersey came off? Most fans lose track once the NBA Draft ends. Willis went undrafted in 2017, but he didn't quit.
He did the G-League grind with the Grand Rapids Drive, averaging nearly 12 points and 7 rebounds. But he saw the writing on the wall. Instead of chasing 10-day contracts that might never come, he went to Europe.
Here is the reality of his post-UK career:
- Germany: He dominated for BG Göttingen and Ratiopharm Ulm.
- Italy & Spain: He became a reliable EuroCup threat for Brindisi and Joventut Badalona.
- The EuroLeague Leap: He finally hit the big time with Anadolu Efes in Turkey, the second-best league in the world.
- The Paris Chapter: As of mid-2025, he signed with Paris Basketball, continuing his run in the EuroLeague.
His wife, Keely, actually had to go on social media recently to tell people he wasn't retiring. He’s just a pro making a very good living playing a style of basketball that actually rewards his skill set more than the "ISO-heavy" NBA does.
The Public Intoxication Incident
We have to talk about it because it’s part of the story. In 2016, Willis was arrested for public intoxication after being found passed out outside a car. It was a messy moment. It was the kind of thing that could have derailed his senior year. But he owned it. He apologized, took his licks, and actually became more of a leader afterward. He was named to the SEC Community Service Team as a senior. It wasn't a "downfall"—it was a wake-up call.
The Real Legacy
If you want to understand Derek Willis, look at the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. He was the bridge between the old-school Calipari "platoon" era and the modern, floor-spacing era.
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He proved that a local kid could be more than just a "charity scholarship." He showed that you could be a Yu-Gi-Oh! playing, tattoo-covered, Native American kid from Mt. Washington and still be the "X-factor" that John Calipari couldn't afford to take off the court.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the 2016 Arkansas Game: If you want to see Willis at his peak "gravity" effect, go back and watch how he manipulated that defense.
- Follow Paris Basketball: If you want to see how his game has evolved, he’s currently a core piece of their EuroLeague rotation. His "density" and physical play have improved significantly since his college days.
- Appreciate the "Four-Year Guy": In the transfer portal era of 2026, Willis’s trajectory—staying through the bench years to become a starter—is a rare blueprint that current recruits should study.
The story of Derek Willis isn't just about basketball; it’s about identity. He found his on the court at Rupp, and he’s still carving it out across the ocean.