Benny Williams (basketball)
Benjamin Williams (born April 30, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
No. 13 – Syracuse Orange | |
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Position | Small forward / power forward |
League | Atlantic Coast Conference |
Personal information | |
Born | Bowie, Maryland | April 30, 2002
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
Listed weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | |
College | Syracuse (2021–present) |
Career highlights and awards | |
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High school career
Williams played junior varsity basketball for Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland for two years. He stood 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) as a freshman and was rejected by many Amateur Athletic Union programs. Williams grew 11 in (28 cm) from 2016 to 2018, and transferred to St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, where he repeated his sophomore year.[1] As a junior, he averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game, earning First Team All-Met honors.[2] For his senior season, he transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida due to concerns over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to facilities at St. Andrew's.[3] He averaged 16.3 points and six rebounds per game as a senior.[4] Williams was named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster.[5]
Recruiting
Williams was considered a five-star recruit by Rivals, and a four-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN.[6] He committed to playing college basketball for Syracuse over offers from Maryland, Georgetown and Miami (Florida).[7]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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Benny Williams SF / PF |
Bowie, MD | IMG Academy (FL) | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Jun 4, 2020 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 89 | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 21 247Sports: 40 ESPN: 32 | ||||||
Sources:
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College career
On February 28, 2022, Williams suffered a lower body injury in an overtime loss to North Carolina, which was later determined to be season-ending. He averaged 1.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.[8]
References
- Ditota, Donna (September 25, 2020). "Syracuse basketball recruit Benny Williams' journey from dismissed little kid to towering 5-star prospect". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- Emerman, Danny (June 6, 2020). "What to know about Benny Williams, Syracuse's 1st 2021 commit". The Daily Orange. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- Waters, Mike (August 12, 2020). "How coronavirus concerns played a role in Syracuse basketball commit Benny Williams' transfer to IMG Academy". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- Ditota, Donna (May 12, 2021). "Syracuse recruit Benny Williams' quest to prove he belongs: 'I've always wanted the spotlight'". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- McAllister, Mike (May 22, 2021). "Benny Williams Named to Jordan Brand Classic Roster". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- Gutierrez, Matthew (September 30, 2020). "'My goal is to win a championship': Benny Williams on his Syracuse vision". The Athletic. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- Errigo, Michael (June 5, 2020). "Benny Williams of St. Andrew's commits to Syracuse over Maryland, Georgetown". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- "Syracuse Orange men's basketball freshman Benny Williams injured, out for season". ESPN. Associated Press. March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.