EACH WEEK, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT A MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ILLINI HISTORY, THANKS TO THE WORDS OF THE NEWS-GAZETTE

This week: Deron Williams and Luther Head, who helped Illinois reach the 2005 NCAA tournament title game, make NBA news by going in the first round of the draft.

Date: June 28, 2005

Headline: Illinois gets its name out

As commissioner David Stern prepared to announce the No. 3 pick in Tuesday's NBA draft, he stopped and made a pause that seemed to last forever. At the time, Deron Williams didn't know what to think.

"I just didn't know what was going on," Williams said. "I didn't know if there was a trade or something; I was just waiting. Maybe he didn't know what he was doing, maybe he had to go back and find out who was picked."

Stern eventually got the name out, and when he did, he announced Williams as Utah's first-round selection.

Utah, which had the sixth pick in the draft, traded its selection with Portland to move into position to select Williams with the third pick. Williams said after Utah made the trade, he still wasn't sure he was going to be its guy.

"I knew they were going to take a point guard," Williams said. "I knew it was between me and Chris (Paul), but I didn't know for sure until David Stern called my name."

Williams' wasn't the only Illini name called during the draft. The Houston Rockets made Luther Head a first-round selection, choosing him with the 24th pick.

Head, who watched the draft at home in Chicago with his family, said he locked himself in a room because he was nervous.

"When I heard my name, it sounded like an earthquake went through the house," he said.

Williams said he was excited for Head and was confident his former teammate would join him in the first round.

"I'm happy for Luther. I knew he was going to go first round, and I think his play in the Chicago predraft camp and also his workouts helped him out," Williams said. "I thought he was going to go higher. I heard some good feedback about him that he would go as high as 17th."

Head said his former teammate deserved to be the No. 3 pick.

"I was so happy for him," Head said. "I think it was the same reaction as when I heard my name. He worked so hard, and now he gets to provide for his (family). So whenever I see guys like that, who grew up like I grew up and worked to help their family, just makes me happy."

Head said they enjoyed their time at the UI, and it helped him and Williams get to where they are now.

"Hopefully this will prove to a lot of players that UI can get you there," Head said. "All you got to do is go there and be yourself and play hard."

For Williams, Tuesday was a night he waited for as long as he could remember.

"This is just great. It's a great night for my family and myself," he said. "It's finally here, and I'm just glad I have a team to play for and I'm in a good situation."

Williams also said he would help Head out, now that Head will move to Texas.

"He's in my state now, so I'll have to tell him some places to go," Williams said.

Former Illini Deron Williams made history Tuesday night, becoming the school's top NBA draft pick. A look at Illinois' first-rounders:

YEAR PLAYER, TEAM PICK

2005 Deron Williams, Utah Jazz Third

1990 Kendall Gill, Charlotte Hornets Fifth

1957 George BonSalle, Syracuse Nationals Seventh

1983 Derek Harper, Dallas Mavericks 11th

1989 Nick Anderson, Orlando Magic 11th

1973 Nick Weatherspoon, Washington Bullets 13th

1970 Mike Price, New York Knicks 17th

1987 Ken Norman, Los Angeles Clippers 19th

2003 Brian Cook, Los Angeles Lakers 24th

2005 Luther Head, Houston Rockets 24th

2002 Frank Williams, Denver Nuggets 25th

1989 Kenny Battle, Detroit Pistons 27th