Possessing a high-motor, explosiveness, and an adeptness in the rim-to-rim game, 6-foot-7 Class of 2018 guard/forward Jeenathan Williams will gauge his grit against the nation’s elite this season. A recent transfer to esteemed Profilic Prep in California, Williams will entertain one of the country’s most arduous and unforgiving schedules.
While Billy McKnight’s team has bid adieu to one of the country’s best scorers in Gary Trent Jr. (now at Duke), Williams will immediately assume some of the leadership mantle. An elite athlete with ferocious athleticism in the above the rim game, Williams averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for University Prep in New York State/Class AA.
The Rochester native created matchup headaches while pulling off acrobatic finishes only rarified athletes are capable of.
After toying with the idea of attending New Jersey powerhouse St. Benedict’s, Williams heads to a Prolific Prep program that also features 6-foot-11 high-major prospect Jordan Brown. Brown currently has offers from Cal, Gonzaga, Oregon, UCLA, and a barrage of others.
Williams will also be flanked by Jared Martin, a 6-foot-5 all-state shooting guard out of Arizona. The infusion of talent is likely fill the void left by the troika of Trent Jr., Abu Kigab (Oregon), and Paul Scruggs (Xavier). The Crew will shift its gaze to another berth in the Grind Session state championship, where they fell to DeAndre Ayton-led Hillcrest Prep (Az.) following a 29-3 campaign in 2016-17.
“My summer was great, but I’m not satisfied at all,” said Williams, currently sifting through 20+ Division-I scholarship offers.
“My role is to be a leader, make plays, and to learn more of the game of basketball from coach Billy (McKnight) while I work to keep getting better and taking care of my body to get ready for college.”
Providence, Syracuse, Marquette, Virginia, N.C. State, Minnesota, Buffalo, Canisius, Georgia Tech, and a bevy of others have all heaped a scholarship offer on Williams.
Williams, who hails from the same regal recruiting real estate that produced Thomas Bryant, rattled off “Buffalo, UMass, Rhode Island, and Illinois” as programs in heavy pursuit recently.
The opportunity to play one of the country’s toughest schedules and the ramped up national exposure Pro Prep is bound to attract were each pivotal factors in Williams’ relocation to the West Coast.
Having improved exponentially on his handle, Williams has established himself as a versatile threat. He envisions himself as a multi-positional, jack of all trades type at the ensuing level of play. Shouldering less scoring responsibility and focusing more on facilitating, Williams will adapt to his future niche.
“I see myself being the same position in college, a point forward type,” said Williams, who plays for the Albany City Rocks on the AAU circuit.
Length, adroit finishing ability, and an evolving jumper will be the foundation of Williams’ growing skill-set. He’s displayed consistency in the mid-range game, developing a knack for elbow jumpers. Depicted by teammates and coaches as a devout worker with a level-headed persona, Williams originally augmented his stock with a notable performance at Nike Top 100 camp.
He gained immediate notice and offers from Rutgers, Florida State, Providence, Temple, Rhode Island, and about seven others throughout the course of his junior season. Scoring at all three levels has been a priority for Williams since he was a freshman. As a sophomore, Williams rapidly evolved as one of New York State’s most perilous scorers at 28 points per game.
Widely regarded as a Top-30 in the country at the off-guard position, expect continued growth as Williams continues to develop as a big guard.
