Nick Williams

Verballed 8/25/02, signed 11/13/02.

10/17/03: “Armein Kirkland doesn't know much about his new teammate, mainly because Nick Williams spent most of his first summer at the University of Cincinnati rehabbing an injured foot, not to mention the fact that he is pretty soft-spoken. Since Williams started playing pickup games in early September, however, Kirkland has been able to get a firm grasp of what to expect from the leading candidate to be the Bearcats' starting point guard heading into today's first real practice of the season. "He sees the floor pretty well," said Kirkland, a sophomore small forward. "He gets other people open shots, and he gets himself open shots. He plays pretty much like a point guard should. He can penetrate, which we didn't have a lot of last year. That's already a plus."

That "plus" alone has to be quite comforting for the Bearcats and their fans. The fluid, 6-foot-4 Williams is the anti-Taron Barker, the erstwhile starter whose inability to penetrate was one of the main reasons why UC's offense sputtered throughout a dismal 17-win season in 2002-03.

UC expects a lot out Williams, who played last season at Chipola Junior College in Florida. Not only will he be asked to help guide the ship back into calm waters, but he could end up doing it a lot on his own. UC's other point guard, sophomore Chadd Moore, has an ailing back. Moore, who didn't participate in Midnight Madness this morning, said he hopes to begin practice Monday.

Often times relying on a newcomer to be the starting point guard would be cause for concern. But Williams played in 29 games -- all but four of which were starts -- as a freshman in 2001-02 at Kansas State of the Big 12 Conference, arguably the nation's best league. "He's not a typical junior-college guy who hasn't experienced big-time basketball," said UC assistant coach Andy Kennedy, who recruited Williams. "He understands the demands of this level. Plus, he's highly motivated because last year didn't go well because of the injury situation."

The injury situation foiled the plans for Williams to play his first full season at point guard. He broke his left foot Nov. 8, forcing him to miss 12 Chipola games. Williams had to undergo surgery on his foot when he arrived at UC in June, because it didn't heal properly, despite the fact he played the last two months of Chipola's season. His foot was in a cast for seven weeks. Williams said he rehabbed for one to three hours a day and returned to playing in early September. He said he didn't experience any pain during pickup games and conditioning workouts. "The real test is going to be when practice starts and I'm spending a lot time on it," Williams said. "I feel real confident that my strength and my speed are almost back to where they were when I was playing at my peak."

The last time that happened was his freshman season at Kansas State, where Williams averaged nine points and 2.5 assists per game. He spent most of his time at K-State -- and almost his entire playing career prior to college -- playing shooting guard. He did start a few games at point guard and was the full-time backup for the Wildcats. Williams said he decided to leave K-State because he was unhappy with the direction one of the Big 12's worst programs was headed.

Soon after his arrival at Chipola, head coach Ryan Cross decided Williams' versatile guard skills would make him better suited to play the point. After Williams decided to choose UC instead of Oklahoma, Baylor and Mississippi State, Cross and Kennedy discussed plans to groom Williams so he could compete for the starting point guard job when he arrived at UC, the coaches said.

Williams believes he has played point guard enough to make the adjustment this season. "I've been playing (shooting) guard for so many years, so that's naturally my strongest position," said Williams, who averaged 12.1 points and 2.1 assists at Chipola. "I'm more comfortable off the ball. I'm more of a scoring point guard."

UC knows such a player well. The coaches think Williams is comparable, in some way or another, to former Bearcats point guards and NBA draft picks Nick Van Exel, Steve Logan and Kenny Satterfield. Van Exel and Logan, both of whom were All-Americans, also were natural shooting guards. "Nick (Williams) kind of fits that same mold," Kennedy said. "We don't have any questions about his ability to run the point."

Williams reminds head coach Bob Huggins more of Satterfield. "Nick pushes the ball like Satt did, but he has better ball skills and he's more athletic than Satt," Huggins said. "There are three things you're looking for in a player: somebody who's intelligent, somebody who's athletic and somebody who has a high skill level. And Nick's got all three."

Williams, Kennedy said, has the ability to average 15 points per game. Williams' ability to score undoubtedly will be a plus, but his knack for slithering into the paint is what UC really needs. That should make UC's offense explosive, because of the options -- both in the post and on the perimeter -- Williams will have to pass to.

There is a weakness to Williams' game, Cross said, although it's correctable. "I think at times he doesn't defend the way he's capable of," said Cross, now an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech. "But that won't be a problem at Cincinnati. Nick's a smart kid. He'll buy into what Huggs is doing." - CincyPost.com


10/17/03: "The University of Cincinnati Bearcats began preparations for a new season this morning at Midnight Madness on a brand new floor in a newly named arena with a cast of five new players they hope will eliminate the shortcomings that produced a disappointing 17-12 record last season.

Of the five new players who ran onto the floor in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center - James White, Robert Whaley, Mike Pilgrim, Asrangue Souleymane and Nick Williams - the 6-foot-10 Whaley has received the most attention because of his potential to dominate at the center position. But Williams, a junior point guard who transferred from Chipola (Fla.) College, could be the most crucial to the Bearcats' success. "He's got really explosive speed," UC defensive coordinator Andy Kennedy said. "One of the things I think he's going to bring to our team is the ability to get into the lane and create problems for the defense." That's a dimension that UC was sorely lacking last season with Taron Barker at point guard.

Williams has taken a circuitous route to reach UC. He signed with Kansas State out of Mansfield High School in Arlington, Texas, and played one year with the Wildcats mostly as an off-guard but also spent some time at point. Despite averaging 9.0 points in 29 games at KSU, he decided to transfer. But Wildcats coach Jim Woolridge would not grant him his release, so he had to attend junior college, which cost him a year of eligibility.

In his fourth game at Chipola last season, he broke his left foot, which caused him to miss a big chunk of the season. He still managed to play in 20 of Chipola's 32 games, averaging 12.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He shot 36 percent from 3-point range. "I really don't like to talk about that school," Williams said of Kansas State, "but I will say that it wasn't a situation for me. They really had some issues over there, but I'm past Kansas State. I'm ready to continue here at Cincinnati. I'm really hungry to get out here and win some games."

After he arrived in Cincinnati last summer, X-rays determined that the screw that had been surgically inserted into his broken foot was bent and that the foot had not healed properly. He underwent surgery again in late June, and only for the past month or so has the foot been fully healed.

Williams, 6-4 and 180 pounds, says he feels comfortable playing either point or shooting guard. He will compete with sophomore Chadd Moore for the starting point guard position at UC, assuming Moore's back spasms allow him to compete.

While Kennedy is effusive about Williams' potential, UC coach Bob Huggins is more reserved. "I haven't seen him, other than what I saw at Chipola," Huggins said. "That doesn't mean he can do it here. But I think he's a very intelligent kid. He's got a great work ethic and he comes from a great family."

After what Williams has been through the past few years, he's taking nothing for granted. "I know that any second, whether it can be a pickup game or a real game, I could suffer an injury and never play again," Williams said. "A lot of guys don't think about that, but I was really scared that I would never play again, especially after I had the surgery the second time. I know I have to take advantage of every second that I have to play." - Enquirer.com


07/17/03: Listed as the 5th best Juco prospect in the USA. - CBS Sportsline.com

07/02/03: "New University of Cincinnati basketball recruit Nick Williams will spend most of the summer rehabilitating his left foot after undergoing surgery last Friday. Williams, a guard out of Chipola Junior College in Florida, had a screw and a piece of bone -- which was removed from his leg -- inserted into his foot by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Angelo Colosimo. Williams will be in a cast for three to six weeks, Colosimo said. "He'll be ready for the season," said Colosimo, adding that Williams is able to do some rehab while wearing the cast.

Colosimo had to perform the surgery because Williams' foot did not heal properly after he suffered a fracture while playing in a junior-college game Nov. 8. The screw Williams had surgically inserted into his foot while at Chipola had broken, Colosimo said. Williams said last month that he probably returned to playing at Chipola too quickly. He was back in the lineup in early January.

The UC coaches are looking for Williams to push for the starting point guard role this upcoming season. The 6-foot-4 Williams, of Arlington, Texas, can also play shooting guard." - CincyPost.com

06/14/03: "Nick Williams isn't yet ready to play for the University of Cincinnati basketball team. "I'll be ready by the end of the summer," the junior-college transfer said. No, it has nothing to do with his skills or experience. Williams is still hampered by the broken left foot he suffered during a game in early November while playing for Chipola Junior College in Florida.

One way Williams hopes to prepare himself to be the Bearcats' starting point guard next season is by playing in the annual Deveroes Summer Basketball League at Oak Hills High School. League play starts Sunday afternoon.

Williams is among UC's five newcomers slated to play for the Slats team in the summer league. Williams said he will move to Cincinnati on Thursday, while freshman forward Asrangue Souleymane, who is playing for a national team in his native Central African Republic, is also scheduled to arrive here late next week, UC recruiting coordinator Andy Kennedy said. Florida transfer and sophomore swingman James White and former Purcell Marian standout Mike Pilgrim are in town.

Williams, 6 feet 4 and 185 pounds, is the other "W" who is expected to make a big impact this coming season and help right the Bearcats' ship after a miserable 2002-03 campaign. Although Whaley and White have received much of the fanfare, UC is looking to Williams to help upgrade the point guard position. Williams and sophomore Chadd Moore will battle to replace departed senior Taron Barker.

One of the best things about the summer league is that it gives fans their first opportunity to watch the local teams' incoming recruits, and UC diehards will see the type of point guard they haven't been accustomed to seeing much during the past several seasons, provided Williams is permitted to play. Williams, who had a screw surgically placed in his foot, said he will be evaluated by the UC medical staff soon after his arrival. "He gives you size and athleticism and some scoring at the point," Chipola head coach Ryan Cross said.

Said Williams: "I like to get into the lane and try to use my athleticism as much as I can." Barker's lack of athleticism and inability to penetrate really hindered the Bearcats' offense last season.

Williams, who returned to Chipola's lineup in early January, started to show signs of his old self toward the end of the season, tallying 24 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots in almost 46 minutes of action in a season-ending double-overtime loss. "Every day," Williams said in a phone interview this week from his hometown of Arlington, Texas, "I feel a little bit better."

Those numbers are fairly impressive when considering Williams was still making the adjustment to playing full-time point guard. He had been a shooting guard first, a point guard second for most of his career at Arlington Mansfield High and at Kansas State, where he spent his freshman season.

Williams started 25 of 29 games in 2001-02 for Kansas State, averaging nine points and 2.5 assists, before deciding to transfer because he said he didn't think the coaches used their personnel right. Williams started a few of those games at point guard.

So what would you prefer: shooting guard or point guard? "I consider myself comfortable at both positions," Williams said. "Right now, I'm looking at adding depth to the point guard position." That is where UC will need him the most, because the Bearcats return seniors Tony Bobbitt and Field Williams at shooting guard.

Nick Williams isn't too concerned about being physically hindered this summer. He believes that he is ahead of the Division I learning curve because he spent a season playing in the Big 12 Conference, which is one of the best. "Going into Cincinnati, I know what to expect," Williams said. "I know the hours you have to put in to play at the Division I level." - CincyPost.com


Listed as the #5 juco player in the country. (Robert Whaley, #1) - CBS Sportsline

02/11/03: Williams had 19 points in a loss to Tallahassee.

02/09/03: "Nick has been playing both the point and shooting guard for us. He is currently averaging about 4 assists per game, but his stats are a bit deceiving because of his foot injury. He is finally back to full strength and playing pretty well. He had 20 pts in our last game on 8-13 shooting. He also scored 15 pts in the second half of our game before that against Pensacola." - Coach Ryan Cross, Chipola JC

2/5/03: Nick Williams had 15 points and 7 rebounds in a win at Pensacola.

1/27/03: Chipola improved to 16-6 with an 86-81 win at Gulf Coast on Wednesday, Jan. 22. "Nick Williams led the CJC with 22 points, his best performance yet." - Chipola JC site

1/9: "Starting point guard Nick Williams, a pre-season All American transfer from Kansas State, returned to the CJC lineup this week." - Chipola JC

1/6/03: "The Indians have played their last 12 games without the help of starting point guard Nick Williams, a pre-season All American transfer from Kansas State. Coach Cross, said, "We're hoping to only have to play these next two without him. Most likely we'll have him back for conference play. I think Nick will give us a little bit of a boost and get us back to playing the way we need to play." - Chipley Bugle

12/17/02: "They took (Nick's) cast off last week and he will be released to practice on Dec 23. We do not play again until Jan 3 and he will play in that game." - Coach Ryan Cross, Chipola JC

11/14/02: "Nick Williams, the talented 6-4 combo guard from Chipola J.C. in Marianna, Fla., broke his foot last Friday and is out for 4-6 weeks. Rivalshoops.com confirmed the injury with Chipola Head Coach Ryan Cross. Williams committed to Cincinnati earlier this fall. "On Monday, they put a screw in his foot, and they expect him back in four to six weeks," Cross said. "In the worst case scenario, he will be back to play January 3rd when we come back from the Christmas break."

Williams was injured in a victory over Jefferson Davis on Friday night. He was averaging 16.4 points per contest in the Indians' first four games, all victories. Chipola managed to win on Saturday without Williams to improve to 5-0 this fall. "It was just kind of a freak thing," Cross explained. "He was running down the floor and stepped on a guy's foot, breaking his fifth metatarsal bone."

Cross said that doctors have told him that the screw inserted into Williams' foot won't be removed until the season's end [sometime in March], at the earliest. It could even be left in permanently, as it is not expected to affect Nick adversely in any way.

Cross has spoken with the Cincinnati coaching staff regarding Williams' injury. "I gave them the information from the doctor, and they've talked to him," he said. "The doctor's exact words after the surgery were that it's nothing that should affect Nick in the future." - www.RivalsHoops.com


11/13: "Nick is a very skilled point guard. He has the same kind of acceleration in the open floor that Kenny Satterfield had. He has really good ball skills and is a good shooter. He's the whole package--as good a point guard as there is out there." - Bob Huggins, UCBearcats.com

10/2/02: Named the best Juco SF in the country. - Sporting News

9/24/02: Named the best Juco SF in the country. - Street & Smith's College Basketball Preview

8/29: "Williams nearly averaged double-digits last season as a true freshman at Kansas State and he's been very impressive this summer. He doesn't have the pure talent of an (Martin) Iti, but Williams will be one of the nation's best JUCO players. He is a multi-position guy who can run the point or play the wing. He's the quality of JUCO talent that has paid big dividends for Bob Huggins' Bearcats in years past." - ESPN

8/27: "Rick Ball ranks him a top JC point guard, and Rick Ball is an expert. We have not seen him, but very reliable sources say he is a terrific scorer and penetrator, who is also a feisty on-ball defender." - Bullseye, All Star Report

8/26: "I picked Cincinnati first and foremost because Coach (Bob) Huggins is one of those coaches who does a good job making players the best players that they can be," Williams told RivalsHoops.com's Russ Blake. "He's proven that Cincinnati is a great program and that Cincinnati is best place for me to develop, to be the best player and to be part of a good program that competes at a high level every year." Williams, a native of Arlington, Tex., was one of the top freshmen in the Big 12 last year at Kansas State. In addition to Cincinnati, Williams was also being looked at this summer by Oklahoma, Baylor and Auburn. "Once I went to Cincinnati I knew that was the place for me," Williams said. "Before going there I knew that if I had a chance to fit in, I was going to go there. "I am an all around player, I can shoot the ball, shoot it off the dribble, catch and shoot it, put the ball on the floor, play defense and get others involved. I am athletic and get up above the rim. I can do a lot of things." - Sporting News/Rivals

8/26: "I want to have a chance to be the best player I can and play for a well respected coach and good program," Williams said. "Cincinnati has everything to offer." - Insiders Hoops

8/26/02: "The University of Cincinnati secured its first recruit for next season when junior college guard Nick Williams orally committed during a weekend visit to campus. Williams made his decision Saturday before returning home Sunday evening for classes today. "I really liked everything,” Williams said. “I was looking to make sure that Cincinnati would be a good fit for me and a place where I would have the best opportunity to develop. And it's also a school that's going to be in the NCAA Tournament." Williams is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound point guard who transferred from Kansas State, where he started 25 of 29 games last season, to Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla. Chipola is the same school that UC incoming junior Kareem Johnson attended, although Williams didn't know Johnson.

Williams was billed as a combination guard out of Mansfield (Texas) High School and split time between point and shooting guard during his freshman season at Kansas State, averaging nine points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He also led the Wildcats in shooting 38 percent on 3-point attempts for the season and 58 percent over the final 11 games. "He'll play both point and shooting guard for us, but mostly point," said Chipola coach Ryan Cross. "That's what Cincinnati recruited him for." Williams grew up playing against current Bearcats forward Jason Maxiell, who attended Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas. "It didn't figure into my decision,” Williams said, “but it's an added plus to have someone you kind of grew up playing with." Williams started classes at Chipola on , Aug.19, which is when UC began recruiting him, Cross said. Williams and Robert Whaley, a 6-foot-10, 270-pound center/forward, visited campus at the same time and spent a lot of time together. Getting Williams was critical to Cincinnati's backcourt, because after the 2002-03 season, incoming freshman Chadd Moore will be the only point guard on the roster." - Enquirer.com

8/25: Williams committed to Cincinnati. - Greg Swaim

8/25: "Nick Williams, who averaged 9.0 points and 2.5 assists as a freshman regular for Kansas State, has left the Wildcats and is expected to play his sophomore season at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla. Williams shot 46 percent from the field and 37.7 percent on 3-pointers last season. Several Division I programs might be interested in Williams, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Baylor, Cincinnati and Auburn, but they were delayed in pursuing him until he enrolled at Chipola because he had trouble obtaining a release from K-State." - DeCourcy, Sporting News

8/23: "Nick is very interested in them and the chance to play for a great coach like Bob Huggins." One of Cross' top players from a year ago, 6-8 Kareem Johnson of Eufala, Ala., is transferring into Cincinnati this fall. "He knows Jason Maxiell and Field Williams from high school," Cross said. "So that's a plus for Cincinnati." - Rivals.com

8/21/02: "Two junior-college basketball players are scheduled to make official recruiting visits to the University of Cincinnati this weekend, their coaches say. One is Robert Whaley, a 6-foot-10, 270-pound center/forward from Barton County (Kan.) College.... The other is Nick Williams, a 6-4 guard from Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., where incoming UC junior Kareem Johnson played. Williams started 25 of 29 games last season at Kansas State and averaged 9.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game in 28.2 minutes. Williams, from Mansfield, Texas, is expected to play point guard and shooting guard for Chipola, and UC is recruiting him as a combination guard. Williams has no other visits scheduled, but Oklahoma, Kansas, Auburn and Baylor are among the schools most interested. "I think his best position, and I think what Cincinnati wants him to be, is a point guard," Chipola coach Ryan Cross said. "That's what he's going to play mostly for us. He's a bigger point guard that can score." - Enquirer.com

5/15/02: "Nick Williams, a 6-foot-4 guard from Mansfield, Texas, transferred to Chipola Junior College from Kansas State. Williams played 29 games, including 25 starts, for Kansas State. He averaged 9.0 points and 2.5 assists per game." - Tallahassee Democrat

4/10/02: "Williams, who started 25 games this season for K-State, is a combo guard out of Mansfield High School in Texas who averaged nine points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season in an average of 28 minutes per contest." Huggins had visited the Chipola campus this week to check on Kareem Johnson. -ESPN.com

4/3/02: "Kansas State University guards Nick Williams and Marcus Hayes have elected to transfer prior to the 2002-03 season, head coach Jim Wooldridge announced Wednesday. "Nick and Marcus have chosen to move in another direction," said Wooldridge. "Nick feels it is in his best interest to transfer to another school, while Marcus is looking for an opportunity for more playing time closer to home." Williams, a 6-foot-4 freshman, played in all 29 games, including 25 starts, this season. He averaged 9.0 points and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 74.7 percent from the free-throw line. The Arlington, Texas, native posted a career-high 19 points vs. North Texas on Dec. 15, 2001 and scored in double figures 13 times, including five of the last six contests." - Kansas State official site

6/5/01: Was part of Kansas State's recruiting class that included former Bearcat recruit Pervis Pasco and former Aiken HS star Janerio Spurlock, after he had spent two years at Chipola. - Mike Ryan

Williams' game by game stats as a freshman at Kansas State -
http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/basketball/college/players/282495.htm
In his last 11 games against tough Big 12 opponents he averaged 11 ppg and 31 minutes per game.


Fall 2001: "A talented combo guard who came on strong this past summer...listed as one of the Top 10 college prospects in the state by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches...a first-team All-District selection last season...also tabbed District Newcomer of the Year in 1999-00...averaged 12 points and four rebounds as a junior...coached by Rob McQuaid at Mansfield. Coach Wooldridge on Williams: "Nick is the protype combo guard. He will give us athleticism from the two-guard, but we also hope he can provide us quality minutes at the point position." - KSN.com

From the Kansas State website -
http://kstatesports.ocsn.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/williams_nick00.html

Fall 2000: Was listed as the 10th best player in Texas, in his class, when coming out of HS. (TJ Ford #1, Maxiell #3, Jamaal Lucas #43) - HoopScoop

Fall 2000: Was listed as the 8th best player in Texas, in his class, when coming out of HS. - Texas Hoops

9/14/00: "Williams, a 6-foot-4-inch, 175-pound guard from Mansfield, Texas, is considered to be one of the top guards in the state and was a three-star player by recruiting Web site Rivals.com." - Kansas State Collegian