Facilitator. Defender. Shooter. High-flyer.
Heath Simpson has seen Quin Williams do a little bit of everything for the Victory Christian Academy boys basketball team.
Be careful, though, because Williams, a 6-foot-4, 170-pound senior guard doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed as a scorer.
Whether it’s running the point or playing on the wing or in the post, Williams wants to make it clear he enjoys getting his teammates involved even more than he likes scoring.
“I don’t worry about points,” Williams said.
That hasn’t stopped Williams from doing a lot of damage in that area.
On Friday, Williams had a team-high 33 points in a 90-64 victory against Brooklane. On Dec. 11, Williams had a team-high 20 points in a 48-37 victory against Oak Hill Academy.
For his accomplishments, Williams is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“He is an all-around team player,” Simpson said of Williams. “He does a good job with that and pushing the pace at times. He is just a real good kid. He is a coach’s player. He does whatever you ask him to do. I would really like to see some college pick him up. He can really, really grow into something special.”
Williams, a transfer from Columbus High School, continued to grow Monday when he had 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a 69-45 victory against Lamar School. The win helped Victory Christian improve to 12-0. The Eagles earned their latest win thanks to a balanced attack that saw Garrett Anthony add 15 points and five steals. Solomon Hill had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Noah Smith had nine points and eight rebounds.
But Simpson said Williams has been Victory Christian’s leading scorer just about every night.
“I like to call him a floor general,” Simpson said. “He gets everybody in the right position when he is running the point or anywhere else. He also works on the inside and drives and penetrates and dishes if off to teammates on the 3-point line or under the goal.”
Simpson said Williams shines at point guard role because he enjoys getting his teammates involved. With a rotation that goes 10 deep, Simpson said the unselfish nature of one of his top players helps create an environment where everyone plays for each other. That chemistry has paid off in big ways for the Eagles in Williams’ first year at the school.
Williams, who played his first three years at Columbus High, said he knew many of his current teammates before he transferred to Victory Christian. He said the past two seasons with the Caledonia Kings Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team also has aided his transition to a new group and new opponents.
“They accepted me right away,” Williams said of his new teammates. They push me and I push them. When it gets to game time, I just take care of business. I couldn’t ask for better teammates.”
Williams has worked hard to make his teammates proud. Simpson said Williams is averaging 28 points, nine rebounds and five steals a game. He said the Eagles’ full-court pressing style fits well with Williams’ athleticism. Simpson said Victory Christian’s ability to get out in transition allows Williams to showcase his ability to find his teammates in an up-tempo game.
Williams also has displayed a knack for being able to finish. Against Brooklane, Williams had six dunks to push him past 20 this season. While Williams admits he has been “shocked” at times to learn he has scored as many points as he has, he said the Eagles’ style of play suits him.
“After someone gets a tipped pass or a steal (in the 2-2-1 full-court press) it leads to easy transition for a 3-on-2 or for an easy layup,” Williams said.
Simpson agrees because he said Williams is a “good finisher” who can score at the rim. He said he also hasn’t been surprised by the fact that Williams has 20 dunks. He said part of the Eagles’ success in that area comes from the work the players do on lob passes, especially ones to Williams.
But Simpson said Williams isn’t one-dimensional. He said Williams plays in the back of the team’s 2-2-1 press. Simpson said the Eagles’ unselfishness enables them to shoulder the benefits from turnovers in transition.
“He knows the more he gets his teammates involved the more active he can be on the scoring end,” Simpson said. “He is a player. He wants everybody to score.”
Simpson feels Williams, who just turned 17 years old in August has the potential to attract college attention. Averaging 28 points, nine rebounds, and five steals, Williams said he has received inquiries from East Central Community College in Decatur. Continued strong showings should help Williams raise his profile, as should the fact that he is an “A and B student,” according to Simpson.
“He still has another year to grow,” Simpson said. “If he keeps working on his game, he can elevate his game even more. If he gets into a college program he can get way better.”
Williams hopes he will get a chance to realize his goal. Until then, he said he is going to keep getting his teammates involved and to continue to lead the fast break and to fill the lanes. Wherever he goes, Williams is apt to throw down a thunderous dunk to get his teammates and the fans pumped up.
Regardless of the end result, Williams knows it isn’t all about one player, so he is eager to keep pushing so he and the Eagles improve every day.
“I couldn’t ask for better teammates,” Williams said. “They want to win and play hard every night. They are the best teammates I have ever had.”
Victory Christian will take on Nanih Waiya on Dec. 27 at the Columbus Christian Academy tournament in Steens. It will take on CCA on Dec. 28 in the second and final day of the tournament. Victory Christian will close the 2017 part of its schedule Dec. 30 at the Lamar School tournament in Meridian.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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