Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2005 18:14:28 GMT -5
By VINNY PEZZIMENTI, The Times Herald
10/18/2005
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Last season versatile wing players Ahmad Smith, Wade Dunston and Patrick Lottin were the St. Bonaventure basketball team’s top scorers. Next year at this time all will have exhausted their eligibility.
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Reinforcements are soon on the way, however.
Junior college guard James Williams told The Times Herald Monday night that he committed to the Bonnies following an official visit to campus over the weekend. He cannot sign a National Letter of Intent until the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period, Nov. 9.
Williams, a 6-foot-5 sophomore at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., is the second player this fall to verbally commit to Bona. Jourdan Morris, a 6-6 high schooler out of Greenbelt, Md. gave his commitment late last month.
Williams and Morris, along with 6-5 freshman A.J. Hawkins, are in line to compete for playing time on the wing following the departures of Smith, Dunston and Lottin, seniors who averaged over 10 points a game last season.
As a freshman at Cloud County, Williams averaged nine points and four rebounds and shot 40 percent from the field.
“The scouting report would say a 6-5 slasher,” Williams said when asked to describe himself on the court. “You have to prepare for my ability to shoot and pass ... versatility, that’s my strength.”
Williams, a native of Topeka, Kan., steadily improved last season as a sixth man for the 15-16 T-Birds. He was the team’s fourth leading scorer as his playing time increased throughout the year.
Still, Williams, who’s listed as a shooting guard, said he must improved his stroke from the perimeter. He shot just 25 percent from the beyond the 3-point line as a freshman.
“The main thing is playing hard all the time,” Williams said. “I think I got skills coming in to compete in this conference. In particular, the skill I’d like to improve on is my jump shot. I have to be more consistent there.”
Cloud County is a member of the 19-team Jayhawk Conference, which is known nationally as one of the elite juco leagues. Annually, a number of the conference’s top players earn scholarship at major programs. Last year alone, four Cloud County players moved on to play at Division I schools.
Williams said he had garnered interest from Loyola Chicago, the University of Denver and James Madison, but was drawn to Bona from the start. Even before his lone official visit.
“I already knew in my mind that I was going to commit, but I didn’t tell the coaches that,” he said.
As a high school senior Williams led Highland Park to a Class 5A state title. The lone senior starter, he led the team with 16 points per game.
Williams said Bonnies coach Anthony Solomon began recruiting him last April. Over the weekend he was on hand for Bona’s first practice of the season and Legends Celebration, which provided Williams a special glimpse at the tradition of the program.
Though the Bonnies are just 9-47 over the last two seasons and went 2-26 last year, Williams believes he’ll be part of the program’s revival.
“I talked to Coach Solomon a lot and he got me convinced that things are heading in the right direction,” he said. “I believe in him and the program. With the additions they’ve already made and adding myself, we can get St. Bonaventure back on track.”
St. Bonaventure cannot comment on Williams until he officially signs.
10/18/2005
Email to a friend Voice your opinion Printer-friendly
Last season versatile wing players Ahmad Smith, Wade Dunston and Patrick Lottin were the St. Bonaventure basketball team’s top scorers. Next year at this time all will have exhausted their eligibility.
Advertisement
Reinforcements are soon on the way, however.
Junior college guard James Williams told The Times Herald Monday night that he committed to the Bonnies following an official visit to campus over the weekend. He cannot sign a National Letter of Intent until the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period, Nov. 9.
Williams, a 6-foot-5 sophomore at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., is the second player this fall to verbally commit to Bona. Jourdan Morris, a 6-6 high schooler out of Greenbelt, Md. gave his commitment late last month.
Williams and Morris, along with 6-5 freshman A.J. Hawkins, are in line to compete for playing time on the wing following the departures of Smith, Dunston and Lottin, seniors who averaged over 10 points a game last season.
As a freshman at Cloud County, Williams averaged nine points and four rebounds and shot 40 percent from the field.
“The scouting report would say a 6-5 slasher,” Williams said when asked to describe himself on the court. “You have to prepare for my ability to shoot and pass ... versatility, that’s my strength.”
Williams, a native of Topeka, Kan., steadily improved last season as a sixth man for the 15-16 T-Birds. He was the team’s fourth leading scorer as his playing time increased throughout the year.
Still, Williams, who’s listed as a shooting guard, said he must improved his stroke from the perimeter. He shot just 25 percent from the beyond the 3-point line as a freshman.
“The main thing is playing hard all the time,” Williams said. “I think I got skills coming in to compete in this conference. In particular, the skill I’d like to improve on is my jump shot. I have to be more consistent there.”
Cloud County is a member of the 19-team Jayhawk Conference, which is known nationally as one of the elite juco leagues. Annually, a number of the conference’s top players earn scholarship at major programs. Last year alone, four Cloud County players moved on to play at Division I schools.
Williams said he had garnered interest from Loyola Chicago, the University of Denver and James Madison, but was drawn to Bona from the start. Even before his lone official visit.
“I already knew in my mind that I was going to commit, but I didn’t tell the coaches that,” he said.
As a high school senior Williams led Highland Park to a Class 5A state title. The lone senior starter, he led the team with 16 points per game.
Williams said Bonnies coach Anthony Solomon began recruiting him last April. Over the weekend he was on hand for Bona’s first practice of the season and Legends Celebration, which provided Williams a special glimpse at the tradition of the program.
Though the Bonnies are just 9-47 over the last two seasons and went 2-26 last year, Williams believes he’ll be part of the program’s revival.
“I talked to Coach Solomon a lot and he got me convinced that things are heading in the right direction,” he said. “I believe in him and the program. With the additions they’ve already made and adding myself, we can get St. Bonaventure back on track.”
St. Bonaventure cannot comment on Williams until he officially signs.