The Big Ten is littered with underclassmen possessing NBA potential and the Indiana Hoosiers boast the services of one of the best in the country: Sophomore forward Troy Williams.
Editor’s note: this Troy Williams feature article is authored by new Sports Bank contributor Wes Evans. (@WesEvans24)
The Virginia native played his senior season of high school basket at legendary Oak Hill Academy where he led his team to an appearance in the National High School Invitational. Williams averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks during his senior campaign while being ranked #47 overall by Rivals.com. Williams’ impressive high school career had schools like North Carolina, Louisville and Kentucky courting him but he ended up committing to Tom Crean and the Hoosiers.
There was whispers of Troy Williams being a ‘one and done’ player but he decided to stay for his sophomore year to polish up on some of his skills. Williams’ game centers around two main characteristic that will likely have him drafted in the late first round of the 2015 draft.
Size/Athleticism: Troy Williams may only be 215 pounds, but his 6’ 7” frame and 6’ 9” wingspan help him cover a ton of ground. He is a beast in the open floor. Williams’ plays above the rim and his freakish athletic ability has scouts giddy when it comes to the possibilities of drafting him. In his sophomore year, Williams has increased his rebounding production by 2+ rebounds a game and is averaging almost twice as many PPG this season after averaging 7.3 PPG last year.
Defense: Troy Williams has the potential to be a lock down defender with his instincts and defensive aggressiveness. Williams has already surpassed his season steal total from last year and has been noticeably more productive on the defensive end of the floor in his second season.
With every “prospect” there are some deficiencies in their game and the main issues with Williams regard his inconsistent shooting from the perimeter. Troy Williams can dominate when he has opportunities in the paint but he’s shooting less than 25% in his career from the 3-pt line. NBA front offices will look for him to develop that portion of his game at the next level.
There are not many players entering the NBA draft this year with Troy Williams resume and physical gifts but he will have to finish the year strong to solidify his 1st round grade. There are only a handful of games left for Williams this season and he will have to prove he can shoot the ball if he hopes to move up in the first round.
@WesEvans24