UNLV Rebels forward Donovan Williams (3) is shown during an NCAA basketball game against the San Diego Toreros at the Thomas & Mack Center Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021.
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 | 2 a.m.
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It’s almost decision time for Donovan Williams.
The UNLV star has until 9 p.m. Wednesday to determine whether he wants to remain in the NBA draft or return to Las Vegas for another year of college basketball, and as things stand now Williams could go either way.
UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger spoke to Williams on Monday and said he’s still letting the process play out.
“He’s still got a couple of workouts left and he’s focused on that,” Kruger said. “We’ve been talking with him throughout the process, just staying in the loop. I don’t think he’s made a decision, so I’m not sure what direction he’s leaning.”
Williams enjoyed a breakout campaign as a junior in 2021-22, posting 12.7 points per game while making 43.6% of his 3-point attempts. That earned him Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year honors and prompted him to declare for the draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility.
Over the past month Williams has worked to improve his draft stock. The 6-foot-6 swingman has drawn interest from a number of NBA teams and has participated in four workouts in the past week, not including a scheduled meeting with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday afternoon. Following that workout, Williams will have just a few hours to make his final decision.
His return would be a boon for UNLV, which is already losing leading scorer Bryce Hamilton to graduation. If Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer, were to depart as well, the Scarlet and Gray’s top returning offensive producer would be Jordan McCabe, who averaged 6.4 points last year.
Kruger has brought in a class of five transfers to fill the void, led by Oklahoma guard Elijah Harkless (10.0 points per game last year). There are still three open scholarships — two if Williams decides to come back — but the coach said Willams’ draft exploration has not impacted the team’s recruiting strategy.
“It really hasn’t been one of our discussion points as a staff,” he said. “The portal is what it is. High-school recruiting is what it is. At the end of the day it comes down to forming the best 13-man roster that we can. I wouldn’t say we’re sitting around waiting for his response. Whatever he decides to do, we’re happy and supportive of him.”
Though Williams has yet to show up in any mainstream mock drafts, Kruger relayed that he has heard good things from the only opinions that matter — those of NBA personnel.
“The beautiful part of basketball is it’s a pretty small fraternity,” Kruger said. “There have been people with the franchises he has worked out for that have given us an honest opinion on how it went. He’s gotten lot of positive feedback. A lot of people were complimentary of him and how his workouts went.”
Kruger said he anticipates receiving a call from Williams sometime before the deadline on Wednesday, but conceded that news of his decision may break on social media before the two parties get a chance to talk one-on-one.
Either way, a decision is due soon.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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