Darrion Williams is one of the biggest names in the transfer portal. The Sacramento native declared for the NBA Draft while entering the transfer portal, and is currently touted as the fifth-best player in the portal by ESPN's Jeff Borzello.
The 6-foot-6 forward entered the portal after a standout junior season in Lubbock, Texas, which saw Texas Tech reach its first Elite Eight since 2019, falling to eventual national champions Florida through a late rally from the Gators. In his last three games in the NCAA Tournament, Williams averaged 23.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
On the year, Williams averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Red Raiders, finishing second in both statistical categories behind star forward JT Toppin. Toppin was receiving buzz as a potential late first or early second-round pick in the NBA Draft, but opted to return to Texas Tech. He's reportedly making $4 million in NIL, a sign of the program's deep NIL pockets.
As Williams is projected to be a second-round pick, there is a chance that he returns to school, though whether or not that is at Texas Tech has been the question as of late.
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Recently, it was revealed that one potential landing spot for Williams could be the Kansas Jayhawks. The Jayhawks have had a busy offseason themselves, with several players entering the transfer portal.
"Darrion Williams. . . They're in the mix for the Texas Tech transfer," The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman said recently. "However, from what I've been told from the start, and I don't think it's changed, is he's going to go through the draft process."
Goodman also revealed that Williams is intent on going pro this offseason, with returning to school — whether that be at Texas Tech or not — a backup plan.
"The hope is, from his camp, that he's gonna be drafted and he's not coming back to college," Goodman said.
Should Williams receive negative feedback from the NBA Draft Combine and workouts, the Jayhawks are one of the top teams chasing his signature, but Bill Self and his staff will face stiff competition to sign him.
"Kansas, they'll be involved," Goodman said. "A couple other teams I'm told are involved now are Ohio State and NC State. But Kansas absolutely is involved in the Darrion Williams deal if he chooses to withdraw from the draft."
Waiting around for a player like Williams may not be a wise move, though. Goodman also said that with the NBA Draft Combine just a few weeks away, schools interested in signing Williams, or any other high-profile transfer testing the NBA waters for that matter, may be gambling with time.
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