Sophomore leads ACC at 11.9 rebounds a game
Three years ago, as an overweight player in a small-school league in Connecticut, it was easy to see what Jordan Williams lacked — physical conditioning and high-level competition.
But for Maryland coach Gary Williams, it was love at first sight. Jordan Williams had a rare gift, often underrated, even by those in the business of evaluating players. Williams had strong, soft, sure hands.
The forward drew Internet attention in high school for shattering a glass backboard. But Gary Williams was more intrigued by his ability to come down with the ball in traffic, catch and dribble in transition, gather rebounds with one hand, and gently lay offensive boards into the hoop.
“He was about 285 pounds and out of shape,” Gary Williams said. “But every time they threw him the ball — they didn’t throw to him much, this was in the summertime and inside guys don’t get the ball in the summertime — he didn’t drop it.”
| Up next |
| NJIT at Maryland |
| When » Wednesday, Dec. 22, 8 p.m. |
| Where » Comcast Center, College Park |
| Radio » 980 AM |
| In its fifth year in Division I, the struggle continues for New Jersey Institute of Technology (2-5), which is winless in five games against D-I schools. Jheryl Wilson, a 6-3 guard, leads the Highlanders in points (11.7 pg), rebounds (5.4 pg), and assists (3 pg). None of the top seven scorers is taller than 6-foot-4. |
Many others the size of the 6-foot-10 Williams can run faster, jump higher, and shoot from longer range, but few have his hands. It’s what has allowed Williams, who operates largely under the rim, to lead the ACC in rebounds (11.9 per game) and field goal percentage (58.8 percent), and ranks third in scoring (18.5 ppg).
“You see a lot of guys who look like great basketball players, but they can’t finish,” Gary Williams said. “They can’t take the ball up and score. Jordan can do that.”
After losing 15 pounds in the offseason, Williams can also finish games. In Sunday’s 79-75 loss to Boston College, he logged 38 minutes, had a career-high 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds.
“I think my adrenaline, surpassed my fatigue,” Jordan Williams said. “I felt pretty good the whole game.”
Williams’ numbers resemble those of former Terp, Joe Smith, who averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds in two seasons (1993-95). Smith was also 6-10, but at 215 pounds he used his quickness to thrive underneath.
For a better comparison, Gary Williams uses Lonny Baxter, the 6-foot-8, 260-pound center, who averaged 15 points and eight rebounds for his 2001-02 national championship team.
“They’re both great at getting that ball and going to the basket,” said Gary Williams. “It’s a hard thing to find now. You find a lot of big guys now who think they have to shoot jump shots in order to make it to the next level. That’s not true at all.”
