By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Derek Willis joined Paris for the 2025-26 season, the team announced on Friday.
After naming Francesco Tabellini as the new head coach, the preparations of the team based in the French capital for the next season extended to signing Joel Ayayi, Allan Dokossi, Amath M’Baye, and Jeremy Morgan over recent days. With most of the 2024-25 squad on expiring contracts, the arrival of the former Kentucky standout adds to a growing squad, heading to the next editions of the EuroLeague and domestic competitions in France.
Over the last two years with Efes, Willis put up 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest over 53 appearances, including 3.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game over 27 appearances in the 2024-25 season. Making his way to 35 games of the most recent installment of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi, he averaged 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per contest.
Earlier in his career, he logged 45 games played in the 7DAYS EuroCup, spread between Umana Reyer Venice, Joventut Badalona, and ratiopharm Ulm. With Happy Casa Brindisi through the 2020-21 campaign, he registered ten Basketball Champions League games. Back in the 2018-19 season, BG Gottingen was his first European team. During the 2017-18 journey, playing for the Grand Rapids Drive in the G League, he also earned one cap with the senior national team of the United States in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net