Latest news with #DarrionWilliams
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NC State men's basketball grabs top 10 transfer, Wolfpack roster nearly complete
The final pieces of N.C. State's 2025-26 men's basketball roster are falling into place. Darrion Williams, the No. 6 player in the transfer portal per 247Sports and On3, committed to the Wolfpack on Thursday night. Advertisement Williams joins the N.C. State program after spending one season at Nevada and two at Texas Tech, primarily playing at power forward. 'Thank you Tech for everything!' Williams wrote in a tweet. 'I wouldn't trade these last two years for anything. Lubbock is a second home to me and will always have a special place in my heart.' During his junior season with the Red Raiders, Williams averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He recorded a 23% assist rate. Williams shot 34% from 3-point range last season, taking a step back from his 46% 3-point rate as a sophomore. Williams made roughly 44% of his shots from the field. Though his averages dipped this past season, Williams has made clutch shots in big moments. Arguably his most important shot was a go-ahead layup in Texas Tech's overtime win over Arkansas to advance to the Elite Eight. N.C. State's Casey Morsell drives to the basket past Texas Tech's Darrion Williams during the first half of the Wolfpack's first round NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Sacramento native — he attended high school in Las Vegaas — earned First Team All-Big 12 honors this past season and Third Team honors a year prior. Advertisement Williams was on the Red Raiders team that fell to N.C. State in 2024 during the Wolfpack's miracle run to the Final Four. He recorded 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the loss. Photos: NC State defeats Texas Tech in first round NCAA Tournament action Williams went through the NBA Draft evaluation process, but opted to return to school after struggling in the combine. He withdrew earlier this week. Williams tied for first place in the 3-point contest, but had little impact in the two scrimmages. He previously told CBS Sports' Isaac Trotter that he was focused on the combine and didn't take calls from coaches. However, Williams also said he was open to returning to school if that was the best decision for himself. Advertisement 'I'm open to it, but I wanted to be full in on the draft,' Williams said. 'I didn't want to be one foot in one foot out. If I have to go back, I'll go back, [but] I want to go through the draft [process]. It's my first time doing this.' First-year head coach Will Wade told the News & Observer last week he hoped to complete the roster by the beginning of June. With Williams' commitment, the Pack has 11 scholarship players. It currently can offer 13 full scholarships. If the House vs. NCAA settlement is approved, however, Division I teams can award a combination of full or partial scholarships to up to 15 players. The Wolfpack ranks No. 12 in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings, adding one five-star and five four-star recruits. N.C. State lands at No. 15 in the nation for overall recruiting rankings, picking up two five-star players and six four-stars.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State basketball misses out on high-priority transfer target
Ohio State basketball misses out on high-priority transfer target The Ohio State basketball program was thought to be in on a fairly visible transfer portal target, but he has committed elsewhere. Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams was a high priority for the Buckeyes and was coming off a year in which he was an All-Big Twelve performer by averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per contest. To add to the pull in Columbus, Williams, out of Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, was a former teammate of current Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. The Buckeyes were thought to have a good shot at the No. 6 overall player in the portal, but he made his decision to commit to NC State on Thursday. It's a bit of a blow for head coach Jake Diebler and the program because he would have fit into the lineup very nicely and added another scorer to a team that already has a solid, but not great scoring lineup coming back. There has been significant turnover with the roster in the offseason, and landing Williams would have allowed guys to play in positions more suited for their game. As it stands, incoming transfer Brandon Noel, power forward Devin Royal, and Colin White project to compete and occupy time at the position. It has been a very, very interesting offseason for the OSU program, and it seems to be struggling to gain momentum after missing the last three NCAA Tournaments. All eyes will be on Diebler and how the program responds next season. Landing Williams would have significantly helped steer things back out into the open water. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas Tech junior transfer Darrion Williams commits to NC State
Texas Tech junior transfer Darrion Williams commits to NC State Texas Tech junior transfer Darrion Williams has reportedly committed to play next season for coach Will Wade at NC State, according to Joe Tipton of On3 Sports. Williams was named to the All-Big 12 first team this past season, averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals on 34% shooting from 3-point range. He registered nine 20-point games, including a season-high 28 points on March 22 in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-6 forward led the Red Raiders to their first Elite Eight appearance since 2019, averaging 21 points and 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He had several clutch plays throughout the tournament, including the go-ahead shot in an overtime win over Arkansas on March 27. Williams entered the transfer portal last month while also declaring for the draft. He was among the players invited to the combine and also worked out with Milwaukee and Sacramento during the predraft process before withdrawing from consideration on Tuesday. After pulling his name from the draft, Williams was considered one of the top players in the transfer portal. He reportedly received interest from several other programs, including Auburn, BYU and Kansas, which he visited on Tuesday. Williams is among several transfers for Wade, joining the likes of Terrance Arceneaux (Houston), Jerry Deng (Florida State), Colt Langdon (Butler) and Tre Holloman (Michigan State). The group is the 12th-ranked transfer class, according to 247Sports.
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NC State lands Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams in recruiting win for Will Wade
New North Carolina State head coach Will Wade has picked up a commitment from Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams, according to multiple reports. Williams, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound forward, spent the past two seasons with the Red Raiders after starting his college career with Nevada. He was named to the All-Big 12 first team last season as a junior after averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He entered the 2025 NBA Draft but withdrew after the NBA Combine. Advertisement His junior season in Lubbock followed a sophomore campaign that saw him named to the All-Big 12 Newcomer Team. It is a massive recruiting win for Wade to beat out Kansas and land Williams. The Wolfpack had a solid core on the perimeter but needed a frontcourt scorer. Williams was the highest-rated player left in our portal rankings and is one of the best mismatch forwards in college basketball. He can score in a variety of ways, whether it's spotting up from 3, beating bigger guys off the dribble or picking on smaller players with dribble downs. He thrived in Texas Tech's system and is best when put in space and allowed to use his strength to get where he wants on the floor. This is a disappointing week for Kansas, which lost out on both Williams and Dame Sarr. The hope was for the Jayhawks to land at least one of those two. Kansas coach Bill Self told me last week that he's looking to add one more scorer who can average 14-15 points per game. There aren't many of those guys left in the portal and KU might have to look overseas or adjust and maybe spend the money it had left for a scorer on more size up front.
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Darrion Williams visits Big 12 program after NBA draft decision
Report: Darrion Williams visits Big 12 program after NBA draft decision Texas Tech Red Raiders junior Darrion Williams reportedly withdrew his name from the 2025 NBA draft on Tuesday, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. Williams entered the transfer portal last month after two seasons at Texas Tech while also declaring for the draft. He was among the players invited to the combine last week, taking part in on-court drills and scrimmages in Chicago, Illinois. He also worked out with Milwaukee and Sacramento. The 22-year-old is now considered one of the top players in the transfer portal. He reportedly visited Kansas on Tuesday after forgoing the draft and is also receiving interest from programs like Auburn, BYU, NC State and Ohio State, among others. Williams was named to the All-Big 12 first team this past season, averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals on 34% shooting from 3-point range. He registered nine 20-point games, including a season-high 28 points on March 22 in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-6 forward led the Red Raiders to their first Elite Eight appearance since 2019, averaging 21 points and 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He had several clutch plays throughout the tournament, including the go-ahead shot in an overtime win over Arkansas on March 27. Williams was projected to be a mid-to-late second-round pick, which likely factored into his decision to return to college basketball. He will be able to improve his draft stock next season and put himself on the radar with a productive senior year.
