Do You Know This Kid Donnie Williams?
By Kirven Lang
Donnie Williams challenges Darrian Adams in the 6A South Regional Finals (Photo Cred/Albert Cesare - Montgomery Advertiser)
There's always a kid flying under the radar and it's our job to make sure their name comes to light. The name is Donnie Williams of Park Crossing in Montgomery, Alabama.
With a scoring package you can probably find on NBA 2K, Williams usually rises to the occasion once the ball is tipped but you probably wouldn't know that if you lived outside of the 334-area code. He didn't have the luxury of playing on a travel team that actually traveled. His team played more locally but you could still see his skill set and athleticism as he stuck out competing against some of the teams that traveled to play in the local tourneys.
Playing with the Alabama Force, Williams ran through competition in two Big Shots events at the Cramton Bowl. He knocked down mid to long range jumpers with nice moves creating space. Then he played above the rim showing he had improved his athleticism since the high school season where he averaged 16 points a game. Williams was key in leading Park Crossing to the 6A South Regional Finals where they fell to city rival Carver-Montgomery. Park Crossing finished the season 18-12 and upset LeFlore who was one of the better 6A teams in the south.
Sporting a 2.8 GPA, Williams is on track to qualify pending an honorable ACT score. "Nobody is recruiting me. I have just been invited to elite camps this summer." Kennesaw St, Montevallo and Samford were three schools that invited Williams to elite camp but no one has really been in contact.
With a scoring package you can probably find on NBA 2K, Williams usually rises to the occasion once the ball is tipped but you probably wouldn't know that if you lived outside of the 334-area code. He didn't have the luxury of playing on a travel team that actually traveled. His team played more locally but you could still see his skill set and athleticism as he stuck out competing against some of the teams that traveled to play in the local tourneys.
Playing with the Alabama Force, Williams ran through competition in two Big Shots events at the Cramton Bowl. He knocked down mid to long range jumpers with nice moves creating space. Then he played above the rim showing he had improved his athleticism since the high school season where he averaged 16 points a game. Williams was key in leading Park Crossing to the 6A South Regional Finals where they fell to city rival Carver-Montgomery. Park Crossing finished the season 18-12 and upset LeFlore who was one of the better 6A teams in the south.
Sporting a 2.8 GPA, Williams is on track to qualify pending an honorable ACT score. "Nobody is recruiting me. I have just been invited to elite camps this summer." Kennesaw St, Montevallo and Samford were three schools that invited Williams to elite camp but no one has really been in contact.
No one is currently recruiting Park Crossing guard Donnie Williams
Of course the recruitment for Donnie Williams will not be very existent at this point due to his lack of exposure during the travel season. It may not even become much better during the high school season even with a great season. But put this in perspective, the talent level Williams has, plug him in a spot of another top state ranked kid and play him on a shoe circuit team and the tables turn.
Alabama is a late blooming state when it comes to basketball prospects as most of the kids here don't reclassify. Therefore, most of the time kids don't fully grow into their bodies until they have graduated from high school. Williams is just one of those kids who is really starting to come into his own and it will take a special coach to take that chance on him.
We can always say it will only be a matter of time before coaches start knocking the doors down for Williams but quite frankly, it doesn't always work that way here in Alabama. He may end up being a kid who may have to go the junior college route and put up numbers before most four year programs respect him as a player. With that being said, JUCO's should make it their business to be on this kid from this day forward.
Alabama is a late blooming state when it comes to basketball prospects as most of the kids here don't reclassify. Therefore, most of the time kids don't fully grow into their bodies until they have graduated from high school. Williams is just one of those kids who is really starting to come into his own and it will take a special coach to take that chance on him.
We can always say it will only be a matter of time before coaches start knocking the doors down for Williams but quite frankly, it doesn't always work that way here in Alabama. He may end up being a kid who may have to go the junior college route and put up numbers before most four year programs respect him as a player. With that being said, JUCO's should make it their business to be on this kid from this day forward.