Arizona forward Derrick Williams played the final two months of his sophomore season with a broken right pinky finger.
Williams said that the injury nearly ended his season.

“If I cracked it a half inch lower, I would have had to have surgery,” he said. “If I had to sit out, I would sit out, but I wasn’t going to sit out if there was no reason. I just wanted to continue to play with my teammates for as long as I could.”

His willingness to play hurt — and his effectiveness while doing so — should be another positive in the eyes of NBA scouts.

Derrick Williams said he received word from within the NBA that he would be at least a top five pick, a key reason why he chose to leave.

"If I drop out of top five... I don’t think that’s going to happen and I don’t think anybody else thinks that’s going to happen," Williams said.

Williams said the reaction he's received since making his decision a week ago has been "relaxed," since many fans realize that being a top five pick makes it a risk to come back to school.

"I think they understand," he said. "If you’re a real basketball fan -- you actually know the game of basketball, which a lot of UA fans know -- then you know the situation I’m in right now," Williams said. "If you have a chance to make money and do something that you love ... and hopefully one day I won’t have to work, this is my job. So I think they all understand."

Derrick Williams will finish out his classes this spring - instead of taking off in midsemester like some NBA draft prospects do - and he will keep working out with the Wildcats for at least the near future.

"We couldn't be prouder of him," UA assistant coach James Whitford said, "with what he's done here, the way he handled the situation, and the fact that he's still going to school now and he intends to complete his degree.

"He's in there working out with the guys because he's worried about getting better and being ready when the time is right. In college basketball, you don't oftentimes come around a player like him and a person like him. He's a great reflection of the people who have raised him."

Derrick Williams is heading to the NBA after his sophomore season.

"After careful consideration and with the support of my family and Coach Miller, I have decided to declare for the 2011 NBA Draft," said Williams. "I have enjoyed my two years at Arizona both on and off the court. I want to thank my teammates, who are like brothers to me, my coaches and all Wildcat Fans for making my experience an unforgettable one."

In two seasons at Arizona, Williams averaged 17.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game in 69 career appearances (68 starts). He connected on 58.6 percent of his field goal attempts (388-of-662) in that span, a figure that ranks fourth on the UA career field goal percentage list.

The 6-foot-8 forward has been projected as a top-3 pick.

The player ranked No. 2 on most draft boards is Arizona’s Derrick Williams.

Most NBA teams, including the Cavaliers, view the 6-foot-8, 241-pound Williams as more of a power forward than a small forward at the next level. Teams question whether he’s quick enough to guard small forwards.

This poses somewhat of a problem for the Cavaliers, who have a logjam in the frontcourt with power forwards Anderson Varejao, J.J. Hickson, Antawn Jamison and Samardo Samuels already on the roster.

The Cavs are said to be high on North Carolina small forward Harrison Barnes, but the 6-8, 210-pounder is reportedly leaning towards a return to Chapel Hill.

Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller expects sophomore forward Derrick Williams to make a decision about his future later rather than sooner.

"Derrick is moving through it like I anticipated him doing," Miller said at a news conference Thursday to wrap up the season.

By that, Miller meant that Williams is being methodical, gathering information, relying on a small circle of people that includes his mother and sister.

"I would anticipate that the decision would be more toward the deadline of April 24 than two days from now," Miller said.

"With Derrick ... it's about giving him the space and time. Thank god he's not a guy who can't wait to leave Tucson. He loves college. He loves the fans. He really enjoys playing as a part of our program."

The University of Dayton has hired Arizona assistant Archie Miller.

Miller has been associate head coach the last two seasons for older brother Sean Miller at Arizona. He started as an assistant under Herb Sendek, spending three years at North Carolina State and two at Arizona State. He also was one of Thad Matta's assistants at Ohio State for two years before joining his brother's staff.

Miller was on campus Sunday to meet the team and be introduced at the University of Dayton Arena, where the NCAA tournament's First Four was held.

"I don't take lightly for one second the opportunity or responsibility in front of me," Miller said. "Our program is one of the rare programs that stacks up with any in terms of the total package of athletics, academics and community support."