Diego Willis

Diego Armando Willis Orozco (born May 11, 1999) is a Mexican professional basketball player for the Libertadores de Querétaro of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP). He played college basketball for the NJIT Highlanders and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. He has played for the Mexico men's national basketball team.[1]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Willis and the second or maternal family name is Orozco.
Diego Willis
No. 9 – Libertadores de Querétaro
PositionPoint guard
LeagueLNBP
Personal information
Born (1999-05-11) May 11, 1999
Hermosillo, Mexico
NationalityMexican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolCanarias Basketball Academy
(Tenerife, Spain)
College
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2022–presentLibertadores de Querétaro
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Mexico
FIBA AmeriCup
Bronze medal – third place2017 Argentina

Youth career

Due to an impressive performance at the "200 mil Estudiantes por México" youth tournament, Willis received a scholarship to play at the Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain in 2014.[2] He averaged 18.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in his final year.[3] He signed a National Letter of Intent to go to NJIT.[4]

College career

As a junior, Willis averaged 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.[5] Following the season, he transferred to Stephen F. Austin.[6]

Professional career

Willis joined the Libertadores de Querétaro of the Mexican Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional after coming out of ccollege.[7] He made his professional debut in a 93–80 loss to the Fuerza Regia de Monterrey on July 22.[8] Willis was named the 2022 Rookie of the Year.[9]

National team career

Willis was first called up to the Mexico national team for the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.[10][11] Willis represented Mexico in the 2019 Pan American Games.[12]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 NJIT 2819.7.322.310.3331.5.6.2.01.9
2019–20 NJIT 30214.5.330.280.6501.8.8.4.13.5
2020–21 NJIT 19521.6.330.250.7953.3.9.6.05.9
Career 77814.5.328.277.7262.1.8.4.13.5

Personal life

His father, Rafael, represented Mexico in Basketball at the 1991 Pan American Games while his mother was a volleyball player.[13][14]

References
  1. FIBA profile
  2. Arvizu, Ricardo (September 23, 2014). "Vivirá Diego Willis aventura española". El Imparcial (in Spanish). Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  3. "Diego Willis: The Sky is the Limit". NJIT Highlanders. November 26, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  4. "NJIT squares up against Rutgers". Federal News Network. Associated Press. November 25, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  5. Schmidt-Scheuber, Miles (June 29, 2021). "Diego Willis (Mexican National Team) Continues To Work On Pick And Roll Scenarios So He Can Continue To Grow As A Player". Eurobasket. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  6. "Diego Willis transfers to SF Austin". Latinbasket. July 30, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  7. Villalpando, Eduardo (November 24, 2022). "Destaca Diego Willis crecimiento del básquetbol de México". Grada.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  8. Arredondo, José Francisco (July 22, 2022). "Diego Willis vive debut profesional con Querétaro en triunfo de Fuerza Regia". Grada Norte (in Spanish). Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  9. Molina, Nassim (September 26, 2022). "Nombran al hermosillense Diego Willis Novato del Año en la Liga Nacional de baloncesto profesional". Radio Sonora (in Spanish). Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  10. 2017 FIBA AmeriCup profile
  11. Álvarez, Daniel (November 18, 2018). "Biografías del éxito: Diego Willis". Enlace a cancha (in Spanish). Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  12. "NJIT's Diego Willis to Represent Mexican National Team". NJIT Highlanders. May 14, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  13. "Diego Willis quiere escribir su propia historia en la duela" (in Spanish). Comisión del Deporte del Estado de Sonora. August 6, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  14. Solano, Teresa (June 20, 2022). "Diego Willis: Amo de Tiktok y de la Cancha". El Imparcial (in Spanish). Retrieved December 18, 2022.
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