In the modern age of player movement in college athletics, fans have become paranoid. It is easy to understand why, as each offseason, impact players change teams almost as frequently as players used to change socks. Now, Texas Tech fans are on pins and needles as they wait to find out what the stars of the 2024-25 basketball team decided to do moving forward.
One of the key players that Tech fans are waiting to hear from is junior forward Darrion Williams. He was the heart and soul of the Red Raiders' Elite Eight team this past season, and because he played so well, he will have options as it pertains to his future. Many even believe that he could pursue professional basketball aspirations this offseason, either in the NBA or overseas leagues.
Therefore, when Williams posted to social media a photograph from the inside of an airplane, Tech fans analyzed it for clues. In fact, one Texas Tech fan saw a Lufthansa Airlines logo and made the jump to assuming that Williams was headed to meet with European basketball leagues since that airline is based in Germany.
Fortunately, Williams saw that post on X and replied in a humorous way. He wrote, "I can't just go on vacation" with two crying face emojis.
I can’t just go on vacation 😭😭
— Darrion Williams (@OfficialDW03) April 2, 2025
While there is always a chance that Williams could skip his senior season at Texas Tech to play professionally, that would be a bit of a surprise. He's not really considered a top NBA prospect given that he doesn't possess prototypical size for that level of the sport, and his game doesn't necessarily translate to how the NBA plays.
What's more, Williams could likely earn more NIL money next year at Tech than he would get playing in a league other than the NBA. In fact, Tech could likely match a potential NBA salary, considering that Williams would likely be a second-round pick at best, and second-round rookie contracts in the NBA are not guaranteed.
Naturally, fans are going to be concerned about Williams' status until he officially makes his decision known (and we don't even know if he is at the point of sorting everything out yet). That's understandable given what his return could mean for next season as Tech tries to finally get over the hurdle and win a National Championship.
So for now, some Red Raiders are going to overanalyze every bread crumb that falls our way. Though it may not be the healthiest way to pass the time until next season, it certainly makes for a lot of fun, especially when the athletes themselves get in on the action.