Derek Willis' high school coach says Derek can be UK's x-factor...if he works hard

by:Mrs. Tyler Thompson05/06/15

@MrsTylerKSR

derek-willis-890x395_c The one glaring spot on UK's roster right now is a big wing player. With no Jaylen Brown and various back-up options hovering on the horizon, it sure would be nice if a player on the current roster would step up and fill that void. Last year in the Bahamas, it looked like Derek Willis was ready to accept the challenge. After sitting behind two platoons, Derek will now have his shot, and his high school coach Troy Barr told CatsPause.com's Chris Fisher he thinks Derek is ready...but he'll have to work for it.
"I think Derek is ready," Barr told CatsPause.com Tuesday. "He knows he can be a difference maker. He can make them a top five team if he plays well."
  The staff gave Derek a chance to assert himself in that platoons early last season, but even Derek admitted he had "fallen out with the game" and wasn't putting in enough effort. With one more big chance ahead of him, Barr says it's time.
"I think he's got to amp up his work ethic. That's the number one thing. If he does that, he'll be a major contributor. He's talented enough that if he puts in the work, people are going to be really happy with how he plays next year."
Interesting stuff here, so go check it out on CatsPause.com. [CatsPause]
 

Discuss This Article

Comments have moved.

Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.

KSBoard

2024-03-28