May 25, 2012
TUCSON, Ariz. - Former University of Arizona standout Derrick Williams was one of 12 first-year players named to the National Basketball Association's all-Rookie team, the league announced Tuesday.
Williams, a 6-foot-8, 241-pound forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, was named to the second team in voting done by the league's 30 head coaches. He received two first-team votes and 12 second-team nods for 16 total points.
Williams averaged 8.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 2011-12 and was the only Minnesota player to appear in all 66 games. He posted season highs of 27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists on multiple occasions.
He was the second overall selection by the Timberwolves in the 2011 NBA Draft after averaging 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds to go with a .595 (226-of-380) field goal percentage in 38 appearances (all starts) as a sophomore at Arizona.
The 2011 Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year, Williams was a first-team All-America selection by Sports Illustrated and the John R. Wooden Award, and a second-team pick by the Associated Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches, USBWA, Basketball Times, foxsports.com and the Sporting News.
Williams is the ninth Arizona Wildcat to earn either first- or second-team NBA all-Rookie honors, joining Sean Elliott (1990/2nd), Damon Stoudamire (1996/1st), Mike Bibby (1999/1st), Michael Dickerson (1999/2nd), Jason Terry (2000/2nd), Richard Jefferson (2002/2nd), Andre Iguodala (2005/1st) and Channing Frye (2006/1st).
2011-12 NBA All-Rookie Teams
First Team
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota
Kenneth Faried, Denver
Klay Thompson, Golden State
Iman Shumpert, New York
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio
Brandon Knight, Detroit
Second Team
Chandler Parsons, Houston
Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento
MarShon Brooks, New Jersey
Derrick Williams, Minnesota
Tristan Thompson, Cleveland
