Prospect Spotlight: Charles Willmott (2021 OES)
Shooters – they keep on shooting. You don’t have to remind Charles Willmott of that. The all-around 6-foot-1, 160-pound guard had it going early at home on Wednesday night for OES but things seemed to go awry in the second…
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Continue ReadingShooters – they keep on shooting. You don’t have to remind Charles Willmott of that. The all-around 6-foot-1, 160-pound guard had it going early at home on Wednesday night for OES but things seemed to go awry in the second half. But Willmott stayed the course and when things were on the line at the end, it was the junior wing that took – and made – the deep three at the buzzer that gave the Aardvarks the victory over Riverdale, 44-41.
“We were going to set a double-screen coming right, but they kept fouling so we only had five seconds (left),” Willmott said. “If they leave me open, I’m going to shoot it. Especially at home.”
In many ways it was a tale of two halves for Willmott. In the first half, he was on fire from deep, hitting four threes. His shot seemed to abandon him in the second half as he went 0-for-7 before hitting the game-winner, but as the adage goes shooters need to keep on shooting. Going into the game, Willmott was one of the top scorers in the Lewis & Clark League and given his individual success as well as the team’s 10-5 winning record, he couldn’t be happier with how things have gone thus far.
“Last year we had a tough year so this year not a lot of guys are used to winning,” Willmott said. “It’s been a good adjustment. We just keep going one game at a time – that’s what coach tells us. I’m shooting the ball well this year and I’m going to the rim. Last year I was definitely more of a spot-up shooter, so this year I’m definitely better off the bounce than I was before.”
Also a standout wide receiver on the football field for Lincoln (OES doesn’t sponsor a football team), Willmott does have his eyes at continuing his athletic endeavors at the next level. “Playing sports in college is one of my goals and playing basketball would be awesome,” Willmott said. “I just want to keep playing. I’m from New York City so I’d like to go back to the East Coast, but definitely a high-academic school would be great.”
Given his shooting ability, emerging all-around game, and high-academics, Willmott seems to be a rock-solid Division III prospect. He’ll play AAU hoops with Rose City Basketball this spring and summer but that time will come. There are things to take care of first, starting with the Lewis & Clark League where OES currently stands alone in second place at 4-1 behind two-time state champ De La Salle.
“De La Salle – every year we lose to them and this year we feel like we have a chance,” Willmott said. “The first game, it was close until the fourth quarter. But it’s one game at a time and we’re going to try and win the league.”