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Derrick Williams had a good feeling when he worked out for the Minnesota Timberwolves leading up to the NBA draft. Obviously he knew he was projected by nearly everyone to go in either of the top two selections, but nothing is ever set in stone until it actually occurs. During his time showing off his basketball skills to the Timberwolves’ brass, Williams gave it his all, which is something that isn’t difficult for him to do because he felt like Minnesota was such a good fit.

“Immediately, I felt like I was really comfortable,” said Williams. “A lot of people don’t think this is really me, always smiling and having a good time and I really fit in with them really well, on and off the court. One of my coaches was like, ‘he’s a monster,’ and I really took that as a compliment. I’m always really eager to learn and I think that’s why they picked me, because I’m ready to learn, I want to learn, I want to get better and I want to make this team better.”

Although he is now officially a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves and, as expected, was the second pick in the draft, Williams is still surprised that his most immediate goal is one he can check off as completed. Don’t take that to mean he will rest on his laurels. After all, he knows the situation in Minnesota is one of perpetual rebuilding.

“Ever since high school when I started to actually take basketball serious, I’m just glad that my dreams came true,” said Williams. “I’m happy that this whole franchise chose me number two and I’m just going to keep working and try to be the best player I can possibly be and make the rest of my teammates better. I know a few of them are happy, as well. Hopefully we can win a lot more games than we won last season.”

He has been doing his homework for years now, trying to become as good at the game of basketball as is possible for him. On the collegiate level Williams became one of the best players in the country, but he knows he still has work to do to be able to compete at the level he wants to when he does lace his shoes up in the NBA.

“I focused on it a lot, just seeing how hard they play, from the regular season to the playoffs,” said Williams. “I think the last series, The Finals, really summed it up for me. I’m going to have to step it up a lot in order to produce in this league on the offensive side and the defensive side. You know, it was a long season. You have to take care of your body, I know that. All in all, it’s just about who is ready and who is focused. I’m going to come into training camp ready and focused just like everybody else wants to.”

Williams has a nonstop motor and a no-quit attitude, which will come in very handy in Minnesota. This fact may very well make him a leader on the young Timberwolves immediately, even though he will be a rookie, but Williams also knows the team already has a budding leader in the locker room in All-Star Kevin Love.

“When people play that hard and you have people on your team that like to play hard, it’s always good,” said Williams. “Some players have all of the talent, but don’t play hard and Kevin Love, he’s going to get all the rebounds. 30 and 30 last season. They show a lot of effort and that’s what I like about the whole team.”

{AUTHOR_BOX}Normally when someone enters the NBA as the number two selection in the draft, giant expectations are placed on his shoulders immediately. While that remains the case with Williams to a certain degree, some of that undue burden will fall on the shoulders of Ricky Rubio, who will also make his NBA debut with the Timberwolves in the 2011-12 season. After spending a bit of time with Rubio, working out and playing ball, Williams is excited for the opportunity to get on the court with Rubio, as well as the rest of his new teammates.

“He makes them a lot better,” said Williams. “Even though he has not played any games over here yet, when you have a pass‑first point guard on your team, he wants to make you better. Whenever you have a guy like that, it just brings joy to me; a guy that can get to the lane and kick out who wants to pass you the ball. He doesn’t really care about points and that’s what I like about him. I know we are going to have a big season this year and hopefully win a lot more games than last season.”

Many are curious to see how the Timberwolves will find playing time for all the players who seem to play similar positions, but Williams isn’t concerned. He has faith in his own game, he is working to improve on that game and he also is ready to help make his new teammates better.

“I work my butt off to get in that starting rotation,” said Williams. “They told me to do that to make me better and I think that with everybody being so young on the team, I think you can push each other. Everybody has young, fresh legs. I’m just going to look forward to them pushing me, and me pushing them, as well.”

Derrick Williams is a good kid, already media-savvy enough to say the right things, and that is one of the reasons Minnesota fans will like him as a member of the Timberwolves. After all, he is saying things that haven’t been said about Minnesota’s franchise by many players already, endearing himself to the fan base.

“I want to be there,” said Williams. “I want to make that team better, that whole franchise. I want to get them from a losing record to a winning record. That’s my job, and that’s why they chose me.”

Now, the question becomes: when will Williams be able to begin working his new job?

Be sure to follow Stephen Litel on Twitter @stephenlitel.