This week, the NBA world is divided. While the playoffs continue to unfold across America, the next generation of stars has gathered in Chicago, where the NBA Draft Combine is taking place. Of course, the one player that Red Raider fans are keeping an eye on is Darrion Williams.
The junior forward is exploring all of his options this offseason as he has put his name in the pool of early entrants for the draft as well as the transfer portal. Thus, Texas Tech fans are faced with the real possibility that Williams might not return to Lubbock next season. What's more, he could play for another school if he doesn't remain in the draft.
That's why many are hoping that Williams performs well enough this weekend to convince an NBA team to take a chance on him in June's draft. On Tuesday, he made good progress in that regard when he performed well in a drill designed to showcase one of the most important skills that an NBA player can possess.
Everyone knows that 3-point shooting is critical for guards and wings in the NBA. That's why the star shooting drill is one that all scouts keep a close eye on.
In that drill, players move from spot to spot around the 3-point line in a pattern that resembles a star. As they arrive at each spot, they receive a pass and hoist a shot from beyond the arc to simulate shooting in motion during a game.
Players took 25 shots in that drill, and on Tuesday, six players tied for the best shooting percentage at 72% (18 makes). Williams was one of those players. That was a massive performance for the Red Raider.
Final 3-Point Star Drill #NBACombine pic.twitter.com/BcpqaNWC3m
— Rafael Barlowe (@Barlowe500) May 14, 2025
If Williams is going to have an NBA career, he is going to have to prove that he can make 3-point shots at a high rate. That's essential for players who call the wing home.
For his college career, he has been a 37.9% shooter from deep. That is solid but far from elite for an NCAA player in the modern era of the game.
However, in the 2024-25 season, his 3-point percentage fell to 34.0%. That was the lowest percentage of his career thus far. However, some context is needed.
This season, he shot 4.1 times per game from deep, the most of his career. That was up from the 2.9 shots from downtown he averaged in 2023-24 when he shot a blistering 45.8%.
Of course, there is more that Williams must showcase in Chicago if he wants to impress teams enough to become a draft pick this summer. Most importantly, he will have to play well when the players have their live scrimmages against one another.
However, the fact that he shot the ball at an elite clip from the 3-point line in Tuesday's star shooting drill was an important step in the right direction. Hopefully, it is a sign that he's in for a big week at the combine.