Zaakir Williamson transfers to Calvert Hall
Every year, there are at least a couple of new faces that hit the high school scene and become immediate impacts for their school. Whether it is a freshman or a transfer, teams are constantly changing and trying to improve. A name to add to the list for the upcoming season is Zaakir Williamson, who will be attending Calvert Hall.
Williamson transfers from West Catholic in Philadelphia where he put together an impressive freshman season. Calvert Hall as a team struggled mightily last year in the always challenging MIAA A Conference, but with a revamped coaching staff and a few new pieces, they look to bounce back and make their mark.
Fortunately for Williamson, transferring to Calvert Hall won’t mean he’ll be a stranger to everyone. The 6-foot-6 forward played for the new head coach at Calvert Hall, Jason Hasson, at West Catholic.
“My freshman season overall went really well overall,” Williamson continued, “I was the only freshman in the conference to average a double-double. I averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Hasson really allows me to play my game. He lets me play out on the wing and improve in that area, which in the position that I’ll eventually be playing at the next level.”
Williamson has some weight to go with his 6-foot-6 frame. Because of his size at a young age, he’s mainly been brought up as a frontcourt player and being around the rim, but Williamson has the skill set and athleticism to become an effective wing player.
This past spring/summer, he played with DC Premier on the UAA Circuit.
“We played well overall as a team,” Williamson told Prep Hoops. “We won some tournaments and we lost some, which is how AAU goes, but in terms of individual success I picked up offers from Georgetown and Temple. South Carolina, Florida and Rhode Island also reached out to me. There’s some stuff that I need to continue to improve on to play on the wing. Just cleaning the little things up and lose a few pounds. I really focused on form shooting and becoming more consistent.”
Even though Williamson wants to transition into a wing, he’ll likely find himself being a paint presence for Calvert Hall this season. The Cardinals have decent size, but no players on their roster are as skilled as Williamson at 6-foot-6 or above. Playing alongside East Carolina commit Logan Curtis should means for an exciting duo this upcoming season.