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Before the 2010-11 NCAA men’s basketball season began most people had only a vague idea of who Arizona forward Derrick Williams was. Four months later Williams became a household name is consensus one of the top two players in the 2011 NBA Draft, along with Duke point guard Kyrie Irving.

“I think a lot of people knew my potential, I just had to show it,” said Williams. “My freshman year I didn’t really get to show it because we weren’t winning as much. I think a lot of that has to do with winning as a team before all the individual stuff. Going from 16-15 to 30-8 at Arizona really brought the best out of me as an individual.”

Oh yes it did. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers Williams posted this past season. He shot 60% from the field. And 57% from three-point range and 75% from the free throw line. The only Wildcat to average double figures, Williams put up 19.6 points a game and also led the team with 8.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocked shots, and added in 1.1 assists per game for good measure.

Those kind of numbers for a sophomore on a team that went to the Elite Eight justify declaring early for the draft and the hype Williams is receiving.

“I think it’s humbling. Just to be here is a great thing – not being a top-three pick, but just being in the draft is a blessing. It humbles me to have teams want me to be one of their future players.

“When you are the underdog all the time you just have to prove people wrong and that’s what I’ve been doing my whole career.”

But there is one thing Williams wants to make clear – his NBA position. He has been called a power forward, but that’s not quite right, and neither does he feel he is a tweener forward who will have difficulty actually fitting into a NBA offense.

“I’m not a power forward – I want to clear that up,” Williams laughed. “I think there’s a big difference between power forward and small forward and a swinger, but I’m a small forward that can play the four. I’m not going to get away from me being in the post, but if I have a mismatch…that’s what I did this season. I had a lot of mismatches. If I have a slower guy I’m going to take him outside and be able to drive past him. If I have a smaller guy on me I’m going to post him up.”

There are a few general differences when looking at the archetype for the two positions. Traditionally power forwards are bigger, more bruising, players who look to stay more in the post on both offense and defense. Small forwards need to have the ability to move very well laterally on defense, handle the ball a bit on offense, and be able to hit the outside shot. By that definition Williams should fit the role of a NBA three pretty well.

“I’m a lot more skilled than people think I am. I’m not doing any of the drills the combine, but throughout the team workouts, whoever I schedule for the workouts, I will.”

And NBA defenders take note: guard this man out to the three-point line. Yes, his college three percentages are gaudy and that doesn’t always translate, but he’s been working on his range. How does he feel about the deeper three-point line?

“Really comfortable. At first I struggled a little bit with the different ball and the distance, but I’ve been working hard ever since I declared for the draft and right now the NBA three is looking good.”

As is the case with many of the very top picks, Williams is not participating in the drills portion of the 2011 NBA Combine in Chicago. Don’t read too much into that.

“I have no problems working out with anybody or against anybody. It’s just that at the combine I’m not going to work out here, but I have no problem facing against anybody.”

Former Arizona Wildcats’ head coach Lute Olsen, who did not coach Williams, has compared Williams’ game to former Wildcat and current Philadelphia 76er swingman Andre Iguodala.

“I like that comparison. Lute Olsen is a very smart man and he’s seen a lot of basketball players coaching for 25 years. For my name to be up there with Andre Iguodala, that’s an honor right there. He’s a great players. Just to have my name and have Lute Olsen say I’m Iguodala with a jump shot, that’s an honor right there.”

But can he play defense like Iguodala?

“I can be. I think he’s more defensive-minded, but he’s a great player offensively and defensively.”

At this time of year players are always being compared to somebody and quite often a comparison will stick from the beginning all the way through the draft process. While the Iguodala comparison is flattering, Williams has heard his game be compared to quite a few players, but doesn’t sound truly sold on any of them.

“I’ve heard Mike Beasley, just a few names, but I’m just trying to play like myself and I don’t really want to be like anybody else. I want to be different, and I think that’s why people haven’t really chosen anyone that I play like. I just try and get out there and do things I know I can do.”

{AUTHOR_BOX}With the numbers from last season with the Cats and his draft projection at the small forward position, many people think Williams may be the player to make the most immediate impact at the next level. Williams agrees.

“I think so, just by how I am with my body type, being 6-8, 6-9, 245, I think am the most NBA-ready guy that can step in and be an immediate impact.”

His first goal after getting to wherever he will be playing is to win Rookie of the Year.

“That’s the plan, that’s the first step.”

But where will Williams get drafted? He would fit perfectly with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the number draft slot, but Irving is still getting most of the love there. At number two, which seems to be where he is mostly likely to be picked, the Minnesota Timberwolves are stocked at the forward spots with Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, and Wesley Johnson. However, they are rumored to be willing to move the pick in the right deal, which means Williams may end up going to the highest bidder.

The lowest he will fall is to the Utah Jazz at number three. They would not pass up on a player of his talent and have a roster spot waiting for him with Andrei Kirilenko becoming a free agent.

What do you think – should Williams be getting more consideration for the top pick? If Minnesota wants to make a deal, who should try and move up to two for Williams? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! Follow Jason Fleming on Twitter and check out his weekly chat, Mondays at 8pm Eastern.