The jump from the college game to the NBA is almost too massive for the average person to fathom. This week in Chicago at the NBA Draft Combine, Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams is learning that firsthand. Now, after a second-straight poor showing in the live scrimmage portion of the combine, Williams' best course of action for 2025-26 might be coming into focus.
On Thursday, Williams played 20 minutes in his team's second scrimmage in as many days. In that time on the floor, he posted just two points while going 1-4 from the field and 0-2 from beyond the 3-point arc. Now, he did contribute seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal to his team's cause, but few players, especially in the modern age of the game, are going to get drafted on rebounds and assists alone.
This underwhelming performance came one day after he went scoreless on five shot attempts in his first scrimmage of the combine. Thus, it is fair for fans to start to believe that Williams might be best served to return to the college ranks.
Ultimately, Williams is a fringe prospect, especially after his showing over the past two days in Chicago. That means that even if he does get drafted, it will be in the second round. That's important because second-round picks in the NBA are not given guaranteed rookie contracts. Thus, Williams could be cut before next season and receive virtually no money from the team that drafts him.
On the other hand, he would likely command a multi-million-dollar NIL contract from an NCAA program next season. Thus, it would make all the financial sense in the world for him to return for his senior season.
Would that lucrative deal come from the Red Raiders, though? That might be a stretch. The Red Raiders have already brought in a player, LeJuan Watts, to provide what Williams gave them over the past two seasons.
Tech simply couldn't afford to wait for Williams to make his ultimate decision. Head coach Grant McCasland and his program had to protect themselves in the event that Williams decided to play elsewhere next season.
Watts, a transfer from Washington State, is essentially the same size as Williams, and he'll fill the small forward position. Last season, he put up 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game for the Cougars, numbers that are extremely similar to those Williams put up for Tech.
Thus, it is fair to question whether or not having two prominent players who do essentially the exact same thing on the court is wise for the Red Raiders. What's more, Tech desperately needs to add a point guard to the roster, and spending heavily to fill that hole seems more important than adding Williams back into the mix.
Only time will tell how this chapter of Williams' basketball story plays out. However, it is looking like he won't impress enough during the NBA Combine to guarantee that he will be a draft pick. Thus, no one should be surprised to see him announce his plans to return to the college ranks in the upcoming days.