The latest on Gary Williams Jr.

From the Ottumwa Courier:

Whenever Kirkwood and Indian Hills get together, it’s a battle the end.

And by the end on Saturday night, Gary Williams, Jr. was the one standing tall proudly wearing the wounds of a battle he helped the Warriors close out.

The Oakland native finished off his best night of his young collegiate career by finishing off the seventh-ranked (DII) Eagles at the charity stripe. Two free throws with 1.8 seconds left capped a 16-point night for Williams, Jr. and capped fifth-ranked (DI) IHCC’s thrilling 94-89 win over Kirkwood to finish off the Jack Blackwell Classic on Saturday night at the Hellyer Student Life Center.

“I’ve got a couple scratches on my face, but it’s all good,” Williams, Jr. said after being cut by an incidental strike to the face in the face. “It was a tough game. Kirkwood’s full of good players, but me and my teammates played together. I got in the  zone and I’m always thankful every time those free throws go in.”

Timing was not ideal for Williams, Jr. to suffer those scratches, which forced the freshman to leave the contest for the wounds to be attended. With the game becoming a tight affair in the final 10 minutes and several other teammates dealing with foul difficulty, the depth of the Warriors was put to an early-season test.

“Gary gave us a fantastic spark in the middle of that second half before he had to sit down, but credit our guys again with battling back,” IHCC head coach Barret Peery said. “We had seven guys score in double figures on (Friday) and five guys in double figures (Saturday). It’s been different guys every time that get opportunities to step up and make big plays for us.”

One of those players who needed to step up to help IHCC pull out their second win of the weekend was freshman Justin Moss, who like Williams, Jr. got his first start of the season on Saturday. Moss battled through early foul difficulty and scored his first seven points of the night in a two-minute stretch with a three-point play and two more baskets helping the Warriors open a late seven-point lead.

“I just felt like my team needed a boost,” Moss said after adding nine rebounds and two blocks on Saturday. “(Kirkwood) started to come back and I felt like I had to take it upon myself to provide us with that spark to get us moving in the right direction again.”

IHCC seemed headed in the right direction most of the night thanks to another newcomer — sophomore transfer Ronald Ross. The former Vincennes star outscored Kirkwood on his own with nine of his game-high 17 points coming in the first 10 minutes of the game to help the Warriors open a 21-7 lead.

Trailing by as many as 16 in the second half, Kirkwood used a 12-2 run to get back within six on J.C. Fuller’s three-point play. The Warriors were able to maintain a 45-38 lead at the half before scoring the first 11 points of the second half to open an 18-point margin.

But just as quickly as IHCC seemed to gain control of the contest, Kirkwood turned things around. The Eagles scored the next 11 points of the half, starting a 28-8 run that gave Kirkwood their first lead of the night at 66-64.

“I think the biggest thing that Kirkwood did was get us in foul trouble,” Peery said. “That really started to hurt our size and our ability to protect the rim. Jameel (McKay) was in trouble. Ronnie Stevens was in foul trouble. We had a hard time protecting the rim like we would want to.”

IHCC refused to let Kirkwood keep the run going as the late stages of the contest became a war of attrition. The final 10 minutes featured five ties, four lead changes and six players fouling out.
“We were forced to adjust. We had to play small,” Peery said. “We lost Ronnie, Richard Amardi and Dustin Hogue to fouls. Jameel and Justin also had to play with four fouls, so we had to be a little more careful.”

Moss and Williams, Jr. both came up huge in the second half for IHCC, scoring 21 of the Warriors’ 49 points after halftime. The two newcomers shined brightly in their first weekend of action on their new home floor of the Hellyer Center.

“With all the returning players on the team, it’s really helpful getting me ready to play here (at Indian Hills),” Williams, Jr. said.

The Warriors late seven-point lead was challenged down the stretch as Kirkwood (1-1) trimmed the lead to one, 90-89, before Ross drained a tough jumper to put IHCC up three in the final minute. The Eagles had two chances to tie the game, but Semier and Kevin Hunter both missed 3-pointers with Hunter’s coming in the dying seconds before Williams, Jr. put the game away at the line.

No. 7 (DI) IHCC (2-0) is back on their home floor next weekend for their second home tournament. The Warriors take on Mid-Michigan on Friday and Paris on Saturday in the Reed Overhead Doors Classic.

Gary Williams to the Midwest

Gary Williams Signs With Nation’s Top JUCO
Anthony Ray

Westwind Prep 6-foot-5, 225-pound prep guard Gary Williams has signed a national letter of intent with one of the nation's premier junior college programs.

This week, Williams decided to sign with one of the nation’s elite junior college basketball programs – signing a national letter of intent with Indian Hills Junior College in Iowa. Indian Hills JC head coach Barrett Peery attended several of Williams’ games this summer and reeled in the ultra-talented guard prospect.

Still looking to get cleared by the NCAA’s Clearinghouse very late, Williams had planned to accept one of the many division-I offers that he had received over the summer, but now plans to attend Indian Hills JC for one year in an attempt to raise his recruiting stock.

Williams will look to play the point guard position for Indian Hills this season – a team that is already being heralded as the nation’s top program for the 2012-2013 season.

While playing for the Arizona Magic Elite 17U coached by Kenny Mullins, Williams was an instrumental force for the team, and ranked among the hottest unsigned prospects in the West throughout the summer. 

As a result of Williams’ play this summer, the talented and gifted bigger guard prospect reeled in serious division-I interest from numerous college programs, including Marquette, Oregon State, Texas San Antonio, New Mexico and Portland State.

A Gary Williams update

Gary Williams Handling His Business In Vegas
Anthony Ray  
July 28, 2012

Westwind Prep 6-foot-5, 225-pound prep guard Gary Williams is having an excellent summer performance, and is one of the top individual scorers in Vegas.

Westwind Prep International 6-foot-5, 220-pound unsigned prep guard Gary Williams is having an awesome showing for himself this summer. While playing for the Arizona Magic Elite 17U coached by Kenny Mullins, Williams has led his unit to a strong 3-0 start in Las Vegas at the Pangos Fab 48 event.

Williams has been the instrumental force for the team, and is one of the hottest prospects in Vegas this week, as he has averaged better than 30+ points per/game in his team’s three wins in the event.  As a

result of Williams’ play thus far, the talented and gifted bigger guard prospect has reeled in serious division-I interest from numerous college programs, including Marquette, Oregon State, Texas San Antonio, New Mexico and Portland State, just to name a few, with many more coaches now looking to get involved. Williams may opt

for a junior college program. National powerhouse Indian Hills Junior College (IA) is all over Williams to lead his team next season from the point position.

I spoke with Williams’ father,Gary Williams Sr. Friday evening, and he advised me that his son may opt to go to Indian Hills JC in an attempt to raise his college recruitment to it’s highest level.

“Gary welcomes the opportunity to play at the highest level,” sad Gary Williams Sr. “That’s what he wants.”

A native of the Bay Area in Northern California, Williams is a serious offensive talent that is capable of scoring almost at will, but is also able to make plays at a high rate for his teammates.  Similar to the NBA’s Jason Kidd (New York Knicks), Williams is a very big guard prospect that has a high motor and a high basketball IQ from playing countless hours in the parks and in leagues.

A native of Northern California, where he attended Castlemont High School, Williams ventured to Westwind Prep this year after a brief stint at ABCD Prep in Texas. While a late member of Westwind Prep International’s post-graduate program, Williams missed out on much of the fall recruiting, while he moved destinations and Westwind Prep went through it’s share of problems with the basketball program.

With his play thus far this spring, Williams has proved to be a force physically. He has excellent size and strength and is able to overpower his competition off the dribble on strong, slashing drives to the basket, while also being able to make plays from the perimeter for

himself or his teammates with excellent ball handling and passing of the basketball. Williams has also shown a consistent shooting stroke out to three-point distance, and has displayed a nice mid-range game, which makes him very difficult to defend.

A native of Northern California’s toughest high school league, Williams is a throw-back performer that likes to get others involved and seems to get much more delight from making an excellent pass to an open teammate or setting up a teammate off a strong drive towards the basket.

Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Williams is a nice-looking wing prospect that is very skilled and is capable of playing either the point guard position, off-guard or the small forward
position on the floor. A talented and gifted player, Williams has a very good motor and competes with excellent energy. He likes to have the basketball in his hands where he is able to make plays off the dribble for himself or others with excellent court vision. Likes to play the point position and is a very big guard as a result. Has a very nice handle of the basketball. Is also a very good mid-range shooter and has range out to three-point distance. Has a very strong physical frame that allows him to overpower most guards in the post, where he is able to score effectively around the basket and also rebound and finish the play. A very strong rebounder. A triple-double waiting to happen here, since his size allows him to do so much on the floor. Rebounds hard on both ends of the floor, and uses his size and body to make plays. Also a good defender with good lateral quickness. Has the ability to become a lock-down defender with more focus in this area. An excellent teammate that enjoys winning, and has a great attitude on and off the floor with good professionalism as a player. Very mature. Excellent sleeper prospect.

A Gary Williams update

Fromer Castlemont High star Gary Williams is now making a name for himself in Arizona.

Westwind’s Gary Williams A Nice Prospect Late
Anthony Ray
Arizona Hoops review
April 14, 2012

One player that has really burst onto the recruiting scene so far this spring is Westwind Prep’s 6-foot-5, 225-pound prep guard/forward Gary Williams.

A native of Oakland, California, where he attended Castlemont High School, Williams ventured to Westwind Prep this year after a brief stint at ABCD Prep in Texas.

While a late member of Westwind Prep International’s post-graduate program, Williams missed out on much of the fall recruiting, while he moved destinations and Westwind Prep went through it’s share of problems with the basketball program.

This spring, Williams has more than made up for his lack of exposure quickly, while performing at a high level with his club program the Arizona Magic-Pump N’ Run-2013 squad – helping the team to an undefeated spring thus far.  Williams helped lead his team to the championship of this year’s 2012 Southwest Showcase Main Event, and also an undefeated performance last weekend in the Area Codes Easter Classic.

With his play thus far this spring, Williams has proved to be a force physically as he has excellent size and strength - able to overpower his competition off the dribble on strong, slashing drives to the basket, while also being able to make plays from the perimeter for himself or his teammates with excellent ball handling and passing of the basketball.  Williams has also shown a consistent shooting stroke out to three-point distance, and has displayed a nice mid-range game, which makes him very difficult to defend.

A native of Northern California’s toughest high school league, Williams is a throw-back performer that likes to get others involved and seems to get much more delight from making an excellent pass to an open teammate or setting up a teammate off a strong drive towards the basket.

Williams advised me that he is currently hearing from numerous schools as of late, including UNLV, UTEP, Texas Christian, Houston, Weber State, DePaul, Houston Baptist, Missouri State, St. Louis and Hawaii Pacific. Each program has shown very strong interest in Williams as of late, and will look to evaluate him over the April evaluation period this month.

Williams told me that he will consider a school where he has an opportunity to play and be successful.  He plans to re-evaluate things for himself later this month, when he will take his visits before making a decision.

“I love Gary,” said his club coach Jeff de Laveaga.  “He has a great attitude and is a yes-sir, no-sir kid. I would recommend him to any program recruiting him. He is a nice talent.”

Williams is also already an academic qualifier and an excelelnt student – possessing a 3.0 CUM GPA and already receiving a 1200 on his SAT college entrace examination. He also told me that he plans to major in Sports Broadcasting with a minor in Journalism. Williams was also his school’s class president in high school.

I will continue to follow Williams’ recruitment closely this spring, and bring you any updates as they continue to develop.

Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report:  Williams is a nice-looking wing prospect that is very skilled and is capable of playing either the point guard position, off-guard or the small forward position on the floor. A talented and gifted player, Williams has a very good motor and competes with excellent energy. He likes to have the basketball in his hands where he is able to make plays off the dribble for himself or others with excellent court vision. Likes to play the point position and is a very big guard as a result.  Has a very nice handle of the basketball. Is also a very good mid-range shooter and has range out to three-point distance. Has a very strong physical frame that allows him to overpower most guards in the post, where he is able to score effectively around the basket and also rebound and finish the play. A very strong rebounder. A triple-double waiting to happen here, since his size allows him to do so much on the floor.  Rebounds hard on both ends of the floor, and uses his size and body to make plays.  Also a good defender with good lateral quickness. Has the ability to become a lock-down defender with more focus in this area. An excellent teammate that enjoys winning, and has a great attitude on and off the floor with good professionalism as a player. Very mature.

Sac State and Gary Williams

Alex Kline/TheRecruitScoop recently tweeted this:

"2012 Westwind Prep (AZ) SG Gary Williams has added an offer from Sacramento St, per his coach"

Here's an update on Gary Williams

Former Castlemont star Gary Williams was at ABCD Prep in Dallas but is now attending Westwind Prep. Here's an update.

Gary Williams to the Lone Star State

Wisdom is knowing what you can control while putting yourself in the best of positions. Gary Williams understands the former and has made an important decision concerning the latter. He's currently in the Lone Star State polishing his trade, with a eye cast on his future.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Williams enjoyed solid junior and senior years at Castlemont High, putting up impressive numbers in the scoring, rebounding and passing departments. He averaged just under 24 points per game in his last season and also received accolades at the Double Pump Camp last July at Cal State Dominguez.

But in the critical time period where identities are established, Williams was abroad. Yes, between his junior and senior years, the Knights were on a tour of Germany -- an unusual undertaking for a high school team. As Williams put it, "It probably hurt me a bit [in terms of recruiting] but it was a great experience."

He then did the circuit this past summer with Lakeshow and received interest from a number of mid-majors but nothing quite to Williams' satisfaction. He felt missing the previous June/July tournament action hindered his recognition.

So the decision was made to facilitate greater visibility for himself.

Williams has headed off to Rowlett, Texas (a suburb of Dallas) for a post grad term at ABCD Prep.

The ABCD schedule includes games against Findlay Prep (where he'll match up with Brandon Ashley and Dominic Artis) as well as various junior colleges and other prep schools. In fact, ABCD will be traveling to California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Utah for matchups and such should get many more new sets of eyes on him.

Why ABCD?

"I chose to go the post grad route because I felt I was underexposed," Williams explained. "I went with ABCD because  of Coach [Glendon] Alexander. He was a McDonald's All-American and played at Arkansas and Oklahoma State." There are also three other Golden State players on the team, all from southern California.

"We work out twice a day and I want to get bigger, faster and stronger and keep my three-point shooting solid." he added.

His college prerequisites include a school offering a sports broadcasting major and a basketball playing style featuring creativity. Geographical location is unimportant. Possessing a 3.2 grade point average and NCAA Clearinghouse okay, Williams will be adding to his academics by taking some courses for college credit while at ABCD.

The former Castlemont senior class president brings jumpshooting and take-it-to-the-hoop athletic talent to the court. He just needs a broader audience.

Here are some summer 2011 highlights of Williams.