Shaun Williams wears number 23 in tribute of his favorite basketball player, LeBron James, but Williams knows he isn't 6'7" or a high school All-American on the verge of NBA greatness, so he says his game plan relies heavily on education.
Williams says, "That's the only way you're gonna get to this level. You gotta have your grades. You could be the best athlete in the world, but if you don't have your grades on point, you cant get anywhere in life."
"I never had to deal with him academically," says Coach Stephan Walls. "I always know where he is going to be. It takes a lot out of me knowing that my best player won't have to sit out a game. That takes a load off me, not having to worry about that."
Walls is a first-year head coach with the Houston County Bears, and says Williams' 21 points per game and leadership help make his job easier.
"I can get to the rim any time I want to," Williams adds. "I got a pull-up game that's pretty nice, and setting up my team when it's time score."
Coach Walls agrees, "He understands the game very well. He's really competitive and never quits. He plays really hard and gives his best every game we play."
The Bears are off to a rough start at 1-6 before this past tournament, but Williams isn't discouraged.
"We have a good team. We just have to learn how to play together because we don't have a lot of experience. Tre and I are the only seniors on the team, so we have to step it up in order to get to the next level," says Williams.
And Williams hopes his team can rebound to shoot for more success on the court this season.
The senior guard hopes to play basketball at the college level upon graduation.