Tre'von Willis retrospective - Part One

In reviewing Tre'von Willis's career, it became evident that there was far too much material for a single post. So, rather than delivering all the material today it will be delivered in a four-part series this week.
Today we highlight Tre'von's high school and Memphis experience.
Monday will be the 2008-09 season
Tuesday the 2009-10 season
Wednesday will be the current season.

Please comment if you believe I have missed an important part of Tre'von Willis's career that the readers would benefit from. You'll see more in the UNLV years that documenting Tre's career is in large part documenting the Rebel's season. Enjoy!

 

Tre'von Willis Pre-College

Tre'von was highly recruited out of high school as one of the top Northern California high school talents.

Willis was a 2006 graduate of Washington Union High School in Fresno, California. He averaged 23.4 points,5.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists in his senior season and finished his prep career with 2,842 points, setting the CIF Central Section scoring record. He broke the previous mark set by current NBA player DeShawn Stevenson. The 2,842 points were the fifth-most in California state high school history.

Prior to his senior season, he was ranked the No. 67 player in the nation (No. 50 senior) by HoopScoopOnline.com. Rated No. 12 player in California and No. 37 shooting guard in the nation by Rivals.com. He was named to the California All-State squad by HoopScoopOnline.com following his junior season. Team was valley champs all four years (2003-06).

On Scout.com Tre'von was listed on the list of top 100 high school players, among the names on the list included Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, and many other names you now know. Willis actually played on a team with Kevin Durant on the 2005 NBA top 100 high-schooler's camp. Coincidentally, Willis and Derrick Jasper were two of four prominent players who opted out of attending the Pump N' Run Spring Tournament put on by Adidas, and the Las Vegas Spring Showcase, both players were scouted by UCLA.

Tre'von Willis at Memphis

Willis played as a true-freshman during the 2006-07 season at Memphis. He appeared in 17 games and averaged 2.6 ppg and 1.0 rpg in 6.1 minutes per contest. He shot 39.4 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from 3-point range and 70.6 percent from the free-throw line. Memphis recorded a 33-4 overall record and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Willis's season high was 12 points vs. Tulane (Chris Douglas-Roberts also had 12 that game). Douglas-Roberts had this to say about Willis, "He can play," Douglas-Roberts said. "He's not the quickest, but he thinks the game, and that reminds me of me."

Things didn't quite click for Willis at Memphis. Willis decided to transfer (as did several others from that Memphis recruiting class), and selected UNLV as his destination. Willis had originally narrowed his decision between Memphis and UNLV, so he picked the other school and staff he had also felt comfortable with. Additionally, a friend from AAU days, Derrick Jasper then playing for Kentucky and interested in transfering, was enticed by Willis to come play for UNLV over potential suitors Arizona, UCLA, and San Diego State. Willis was unhappy with playing time under John Calipari and sought to transfer to a school out west, likely to be closer to his home, Fresno.

Willis's statistics at Memphis

NCAA Basketball Stats

Date	Game	Min	Pts	FG	FG%	FT	FT%	3PT	3PT%	OR	DR	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF
2006-11-16	JSU 69, MEM 111	5	4	1-3	33.3	1-2	50.0	1-2	50.0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1
2006-11-21	GT 92, MEM 85	0	0	0-0	0.0	0-0	0.0	0-0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
2006-11-29	A-State 60, MEM 86	8	4	2-5	40.0	0-0	0.0	0-2	0.0	2	0	2	1	1	0	0	2
2006-12-02	MAN 59, MEM 77	2	0	0-0	0.0	0-0	0.0	0-0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
2006-12-04	MARSH 59, MEM 78	7	7	2-3	66.7	1-2	50.0	2-3	66.7	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
2006-12-14	APSU 63, MEM 88	6	1	0-2	0.0	1-2	50.0	0-1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2006-12-23	MTSU 46, MEM 86	8	0	0-2	0.0	0-0	0.0	0-2	0.0	0	2	2	0	0	1	0	0
2007-01-04	Cinci 55, MEM 88	4	2	1-2	50.0	0-0	0.0	0-1	0.0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0
2007-01-16	UAB 54, MEM 79	3	0	0-0	0.0	0-0	0.0	0-0	0.0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0
2007-01-31	MEM 87, UCF 65	6	6	1-1	100.0	4-4	100.0	0-0	0.0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1
2007-02-03	SMU 52, MEM 88	10	3	1-1	100.0	0-0	0.0	1-1	100.0	0	2	2	2	0	0	1	2
2007-02-10	TUL 51, MEM 95	18	12	3-6	50.0	4-5	80.0	2-3	66.7	0	1	1	1	2	1	2	2
2007-02-14	MEM 69, TUL 52	5	0	0-1	0.0	0-0	0.0	0-0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
2007-02-17	MEM 78, Zags 77	1;	1	0-0	0.0	1-2	50.0	0-0	0.0	1	0	1	1	0	0	1	0
2007-02-22	RICE 63, MEM 99	11	2	1-3	33.3	0-0	0.0	0-1	0.0	1	2	3	2	0	0	1	1
2007-02-25	UH 64, MEM 77	1	0	0-1	0.0	0-0	0.0	0-1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007-03-09	TUL 49, MEM 71	8	3	1-3	33.3	0-0	0.0	1-2	50.0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0
Date	Game	Min	Pts	FG	FG%	FT	FT%	3PT	3PT%	OR	DR	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF