June 22, 2010

Former SMU standout Derek Williams has been selected by the Harlem Globetrotters as part of their 2010 Draft Class, the organization announced today.

During his senior season, Williams led the Mustangs in scoring and was fourth in Conference USA at 16.6 points. That is the highest rank for a Mustang since joining C-USA. He also led SMU and was in the top-10 in the league for assists (3.7), assist to turnover ratio (1.5) and minutes (36.4). Williams was also tops on the team in steals. This season, he led SMU in scoring 20 times and in assists 24 times. He became the 17th player at SMU with 500 points in a season (514) and is just the 18th player to eclipse 800 points (894) in two seasons. He had 10 games on the year with at least 20 points, including a game-high 25 points in the win over Memphis on January 30. Williams was also named third-team All-Conference USA. He was selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division 1 All-District 11 second team, an award which recognizes the nation's best men's collegiate basketball student-athletes as selected by member coaches of the NABC.

Among others chosen by the Globetrotters in the team's annual player draft were Mark Titus of Big 10 Conference champion Ohio State; 2010 College Slam Dunk Champion Marqus Blakely of the University of Vermont and Slam Dunk runner-up Chris Roberts of Bradley University.

All players will be extended an invitation to fall training camp to vie for the honor of joining the Globetrotters for their 85th consecutive season of touring the world.