Prospect Spotlight: Devean Williams 2021
For many high school basketball players, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on some interesting challenges. Regular seasons are still largely on hold and players have limited opportunities for workouts and minimal chances to showcase themselves for college coaches. At this…
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Continue ReadingFor many high school basketball players, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on some interesting challenges. Regular seasons are still largely on hold and players have limited opportunities for workouts and minimal chances to showcase themselves for college coaches.
At this time of year, Devean Williams, a senior at Narbonne High School, and his teammates would normally be gearing up for Marine League play. Instead, he’s largely had to keep himself conditioned and in shape while continuing to work on his game.
“I’ve been running a lot at my high school around the track and the bleachers just to stay in shape. A lot of people haven’t been in shape,” Williams told Prep Hoops. “I’ve been getting a lot of shots up too, and conditioning and weight room too.”
Fortunately for Williams, he was able to get some work in this fall at the Hoops 2.0 Showcase. Playing with Fastbreak1 17U, Williams did well to make a name for himself and establish himself as possibly one of the top stock risers in Southern California.
He’s in the mold of an explosive wing scorer who can do a little bit of everything. He’s very comfortable with the ball in his hands creating his own offense. He can put the ball down and attack the rim or he can shoot from the outside. He’s a very patient player who reads the defense and adjusts.
Like most players, he knows what his strengths are and he knows what he needs to work on.
“I can shoot the ball well, I can drive to the basket. I’m a good finisher at the rim,” Williams said. “I really want to get my right hand as good as my left. I feel like if I can get that down pat, I’ll be unstoppable. I feel like also putting in more effort with my defense, I can work on that.”
He can also play off-ball and make strong cuts to the rim, but one area in particular that he seems to excel in is his playmaking. He’s more than willing to make the extra pass and he looks for his teammates often.
When he attacks the rim and draws multiple defenders, he’s able to kick it out to his shooters. Being a facilitator is something he takes a lot of pride in.
“I see the floor good and my teammates know I’m going to pass the ball, I’m not selfish,” Williams said. “I want my teammates to shine the way I want to shine myself.”
Williams’ strong play, including last season, has already put him on the radar of several Division 1 colleges. He names San Diego State, Arizona State, and Georgia Tech as some of the schools that he’s heard from.
“Mostly schools here in California, but some out of state,” Williams said.
And while it remains to be seen whether or not the high school regular season gets underway at all here in California, Williams is keeping himself prepared in anticipation of his final year of high school basketball.
“I want to play my hardest and put all I can on the floor in practice, games, all of that,” Williams said. “I’m going to give all I can.”