Derek Willis was never Kentucky’s biggest star, I am sure he would be the first to admit that. Yet, his story resonates deeply with fans of the Wildcats—a tale of perseverance, rediscovery, and embracing one’s roots that feels both familiar and extraordinary all at once.
Willis, a native of Mount Washington, Kentucky, and a standout at Bullitt East High School, was the first recruit in the class of 2013 to commit to Kentucky. A sharpshooter with dreams as big as Rupp Arena, he joined the Wildcats knowing full well the challenges that lay ahead. Kentucky’s program was thriving on heralded one-and-done players destined for the NBA under John Calipari. For two seasons, Willis found himself glued to the bench, appearing in only 33 of 79 games.
“It was weird for me,” Willis admitted. “I just looked at it as I’m playing behind all these draft picks, and they’re going to make millions.” And he was right, most of them did in fact go on to make millions…