With the NBA Draft Combine taking place in Chicago, Illinois, this week, Texas Tech basketball fans are watching closely for any updates on how Darrion Williams is performing. What's more, we are also nearing the point of the summer when the All-Big 12 forward might make a decision about whether he will stay in the draft or return to college.
On Wednesday, Williams spoke to the media at the combine. When he was asked about potentially returning to college, he said something that gave Texas Tech fans some hope that he might run it back with the Red Raiders.
After saying that he had not taken any calls from college programs and that he was focused entirely on the draft process, he said that he would take until the deadline of May 28 to determine if he will stay in the draft. Then, he was specifically asked about Texas Tech.
"Tech's an option, for sure," he said. "The biggest thing I want...is just to get better. Honestly, it's my last eight, nine, ten months in college, so it's just development and trying to get me to another stage so that I can boost my stock a little bit and just be in a better position for the draft next year if I go back to college."
What Williams said on Wednesday contradicted many of the reports from the spring about his future plans. This offseason, he's been linked to a number of college programs, including BYU, Kansas, and even NC State. However, it doesn't seem as if he's begun narrowing his college choices.
Therefore, even if he makes an announcement on May 28 (or before) that he'll be returning to the NCAA, he might take even more time to pick which program he'll play for. That means it could be the middle of June before this saga reaches its conclusion.
That means that programs hoping to land Williams will have to keep some of their NIL powder dry, even as the talent pool shrinks as the days and weeks go by. Fortunately, the moves that Texas Tech has made this offseason have prepared the program for the possibility that Williams might play elsewhere.
If Williams decides to play college basketball next season, but doesn't do so in Lubbock, the Red Raiders will still be considered a top-15 team to begin the season. However, if he does come home, then Tech could be a preseason top-5 team.
Williams' return to the college ranks might be looking more likely after the first day of live scrimmages at the combine. Playing 26 minutes in his first scrimmage of the week, Williams went scoreless, missing all five of his shot attempts. Though he did grab seven rebounds and hand out a pair of assists, he was the only player on his squad who failed to register a point.
That's not the type of showing that is going to boost Williams' stock in the eyes of NBA decision makers. Of course, he still has time to impress this week, however, he might soon realize that he would make more on a college NIL contract than he would by being a fringe draft pick. And if he does come back to school, it doesn't appear that Texas Tech is out of the running by any means.