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BigSm00th
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Shotblocking is his BC calling card
BC star trying to clean up his reputation
By Mike Muldoon
THE EAGLE-TRIBUNE (NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.)
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — At a proper Catholic school such as Duquesne University, they don't expect such language out of their students. But you could hardly blame Scott Grote.
"Thirteen! Holy --! I've never seen anything like it," said the Duquesne guard, shaking his head in awe.
Boston College junior Sean Williams, a 6-10 junior who soars like his school's mascot, the eagle, and has looooong arms that would make a tailor contemplate early retirement, swatted 13 shots last Tuesday in BC's overtime loss to the Atlantic-10 school.
That was one off the NCAA Division 1 record shared by 7-1 future Hall of Famer David Robinson, 7-6 Shawn Bradley, 6-10 Roy Rogers and 7-1 Loren Woods, all of whom went on to have successful NBA careers.
"Oh, man, we were worried about him," said Duquesne guard Aaron Jackson.
That's because he pounced to block two 3-point shots, which is almost unheard of, and on another occasion after he turned the ball over, Williams raced the length of the court to block the fastbreak layup. Duquesne retrieved the ball but Williams leapt a good two feet above the rim to snuff out what seemed to be another certain hoop.
After two years as a shotblocker playing limited minutes off the bench, Williams has developed into a budding sensation.
"I've had to work hard for it, but I was definitely blessed with some God-given ability," said Williams in his deep voice with the Texas twang.
The blocked shot is his calling card, but he doesn't take extra pride in them.
"I don't get a kick out of it at all," said America's leading shotblocker. "I just don't want the other team to score."
Allen annihilation
Kansas won the game, but everybody was buzzing about the play of Williams after BC's visit to famed Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 23.
The Jayhawks boast two big men in Julian Wright and Darrell Arthur who are considered sure-fire future NBA lottery picks. Even that talented twosome couldn't keep up with Williams, who erupted for 19 points and 15 rebounds, both career highs, to go with seven blocks and three steals.
Kansas coach Bill Self said, "There's been a lot of great athletes play in this building, but I don't know if we've played against many guys that can block or alter shots like him."
Jayhawks guard Russell Robinson raved, "He's the best shotblocker I've ever seen. He comes from nowhere and gets you."
Eagles senior Sean Marshall likens him defensively to Emeka Okafor, the former national player of the year, although he gives the ex-UConn great the slight nod for being a little more savvy.
Offense coming along
Once regarded as a defensive specialist, Williams' offense is coming along like gangbusters.
He had the 19 points against Kansas, followed that up with the tripe double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 13 blocks) vs. Duquesne and notched 16 points and nine rebounds Sunday against Northeastern.
No longer an offensive liability, Williams, who averaged 3.1 points and 3.4 rebounds off the bench last winter, is averaging 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds to go with his 6.0 blocks a game this season.
Marshall attributes it to hard work.
"This summer me and him were in the gym every day," he explained. "You could see him slowly progressing. Now he carries it into games."
In addition to his trademark monster dunks, Williams has added a jump hook and a surprisingly soft mid-range jump shot to his offensive repertoire.
"His offensive game is really, really coming along," said Northeastern's first-year coach Bill Coen who, as an assistant at BC, helped recruit Williams. "He's a terrific developing basketball player. He's got tremendous upside and will only get better and better."
A sleeper out of Mansfield, Texas, a city of 49,000 located 25 miles outside of Dallas, Williams was only a consensus top-150 player out of Mansfield High. Even in Texas, he was relatively unknown because he was a late bloomer and had to sit out his junior year when he transferred high schools.
Things have changed quickly, though, for Mansfield's second most famous citizen (Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson also lives there). ESPN.com has him slated to go 16th in its 2007 mock NBA Draft.
Character questions
One thing that could jeopardize a multi-million dollar career is his checkered history off the court. His two-game suspension to begin this season was the fourth of his career at BC. At the end of his freshman year, Williams was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and alcohol. His future at the school was in question, but he did well in summer school in Texas, followed his drug counseling program and was allowed to return for the second semester last year.
His basketball growth certainly was stunted. Eagles coach Al Skinner refused to put him in the starting lineup despite his obvious gifts.
Those who know him attribute his problems to youth (he didn't turn 18 until September of his freshman year) and to immaturity.
"I'm learning to make better choices," said Williams, who typically prefers to stay out of the media spotlight.
After his freshman year, he was an inpatient at John Lucas' drug rehabilitation program in Houston. Lucas, a former NBA player and coach who has overcome drug problems, has helped several NBA players with addiction problems including Eddie Griffin and ex-Celtic Vin Baker.
"I'm thankful for it and appreciate the opportunity," he said of working with Lucas. "That's my man. I talk to him once a week."
He claims the NBA is the furthest thing from his mind.
"I'm not worried about that at all," insisted Williams. "I'm just at BC trying to get my education."
[Edited by - bigsm00th on 01-03-2007 1:20 PM]
#Knickstaps
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12/24/2006 12:52 AM