Prospect Spotlight: Mykale Williams (2018)
There’s no shortage of confidence when it comes to Redlands East Valley center Mykale Williams.
The class of 2018 prospect is of the belief that he’s one of the best and most underrated big men in all of Southern California, and he wants everyone to know about it.
“I feel like I’m very underrated at my position,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of the best big men around and no one can stop me. I promise.”
Williams backed up that talk at both the Double Pump Summer Tip Off and Best of Summer tournaments with his IEBP All-Stars 17u club, showcasing a ferocity around the basket that’s lost among the new crop of young big men.
The 6-foot-7, 240 pounder is nimble and quick off the floor for his size and has a powerful set of hands that allow him to catch tough passes, finish around the basket with either hand and dunk with authority.
Williams doesn’t get caught up in all the hype of other players and instead focuses on making his impact when it matters most.
“My mindset going into games is just do what I do and come out with a win,” he said. “This is my passion. I love playing this game.”
Aside from him flushing everything he caught in the painted area, one of the more impressive aspects of Williams’ performances was his ability to convert at the charity stripe.
“Dunking and finishing came natural to me,” Williams said. “Free throws are something I’ve always worked on. It’s a given and you have to come up with those.”
Redlands East Valley center Mykale Williams is of the belief he’s one of the most underrated players in the 2018 class.The rising senior, who averaged 9.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a junior at REV, said that he’s been at the top of his game over the last couple of months, and a lot of credit should go to his teammates.
“The spring and summer have been really good,” he said. “I’ve been getting a lot of touches, my guards know how to feed me the ball and I’ve been averaging a lot of points and rebounds.”
Williams may be an undersized center at the next level based on the current climate of the sport, but he’s a guy who knows his role and doesn’t stray from it.
“My footwork is what separates me,” he said. “I know how to feel my opponent and use his energy against him.”
As for what he’d like to work on heading into his senior season of high school ball, Williams wants to up his conditioning and extend his range.
“I just want to keep getting faster and stronger,” he said. “I need to develop my 15-foot mid-range jump shot a lot more.”
The hard-nosed big man reports interest from two schools, but no scholarship offers as of now.
“Right now my biggest interest is from South Dakota,” Williams said. “They’ve been texting me a lot. Cal Poly Pomona has been in my ear, too.”