There were no thoughts of a college scholarship or a professional career at the time. Mike Williams was just a heavyset 12-year old, too slow and tall for the soccer field at 6-foot-3 and a rugby player by habit more than choice.
Looking for something to do during lunch at his secondary school in Birmingham, England, Williams and a couple like-minded souls would shoot with a basketball his older brother, Ola, had bought.
It’s a long way from the streets of Birmingham to Rupp Arena, the tradition-laden venue home to the University of Kentucky basketball team and its seven national championship banners. But that’s where Williams, Ireton’s 7-foot, 270-pound senior center, is headed on a scholarship in the fall.
“I never would have thought that far ahead,” said Williams. “I had no goals, really. No expectations. I just liked playing basketball more than the other sports.”
Williams was overweight and struggled just to run up and down the court. He could barely touch the backboard and his town’s local basketball team played games, but never practiced. England was not the ideal place for a child whose size alone would give access to a better class of coaching outside the country. So his mother, Patricia, made the difficult decision to send her son to the United States and live with a guardian.
By the time Williams arrived as a high school freshman at Carroll, he stood 6-10 and topped 340 pounds, a raw project still growing into his body.
“But I never regretted leaving home,” Williams said. “I missed it. I missed my family. But I always felt like we made a good decision. I just didn’t know how bad I was.”
That first year was a struggle as Williams adjusted to the American game and watched as the coaching staff at Carroll was fired after the season. So Williams transferred to Ireton, where he has gradually improved each year. Despite a summer setback after surgery to remove a cyst on his knee, Williams leads the Cardinals at 17 points and 12 rebounds per game.
“I don’t think I’ve played as well as I know I can,” said Williams. “I’ll make a move in a game or try something new and then imagine myself using it in college. There’s still a lot of work to do. But I’m getting better.”
Seeing Red
» Ireton is mired in last place in the WCAC with a 3-15 record, 0-10 in league play. It has lost seven games by eight points or less, including six to WCAC teams.
» One reason for the Cardinals’ struggles is the loss of point guard Tucker Lucas, who broke a bone in his foot before the season. Last week, Lucas was ruled out for the year.
» Williams also garnered a scholarship offer from American and heavy interest from DePaul, Pittsburgh and Virginia.
