UK basketball's Willis moving past arrest

Jon Hale, @JonHale_CJ

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky senior forward Derek Willis is moving past an offseason arrest that threatened to derail the progress he made on the court last season.

2016-17 UK basketball player Derek Willis. Sept. 15, 2016

In June, Willis was arrested in Boone County on a charge of alcohol intoxication in a public place after he was found passed out in the street outside the driver’s side door of a vehicle. In August, UK coach John Calipari announced he would handle Willis’ punishment internally and not suspend Willis for any games.

In a recent interview with The Courier-Journal, Willis said he is now working on putting the incident behind him.

“Just like any person, you make mistakes,” Willis said. “I’m going to make many more mistakes in my lifetime. So, it was a big learning adjustment for me and really put things into perspective.”

Willis is confident his off-court trouble will no longer be an issue.

“I feel like I learned my lesson, understood the situation and all that it entails,” he said. “Now I’m just really looking forward to my senior season and winning another SEC championship and going on and winning the big thing. That’s just what’s important to me now. It’s my last year, and I’ve got to make things happen.”

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A video of the arrest released by the Boone County Sherriff’s department added to the criticism of Willis. Still, Willis was touched by the support he received from many UK fans, his teammates and coaches.

“I get messages from everybody being like, ‘Look, we’ve all been there and we’ve all made mistakes,’” Willis said. “Like the people that are going to be coming at you with stuff, it’s just hypocritical. No one is perfect. They understood. They just know who I am off-court and what kind of person I am, so they stood behind me.”

Willis enjoyed a breakout season on the court as a junior, averaging 7.7 points and four rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game. He started 11 of his 32 appearances and shot 44.2 percent from 3-point range (53 for 120).

With no suspension looming, Willis will now attempt to win a starting job as a senior. He is expected to play an important role as a shooter for the Wildcats but has acknowledged he must improve his defense and provide a more consistent energy level to reach his full potential.

Willis is grateful for Calipari’s handling of the situation and the opportunity to prove himself on the court.

“Coach Cal, he’s a real person,” Willis said. “He’ll tell you how it is. If he doesn’t, he’s not benefitting you. He’s just a great coach and he’s learned a lot (about) me. He knows what kind of person I am, and I think all the coaching staff does. That’s just how he is.”

Email Jon Hale atjahale@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter@JonHale_CJ.