|
|
Williams looking for NBA opportunity
LUT WILLIAMS He led the nation in blocked shots three
straight years. He improved his scoring average each year of
the three he played. He capped his career this
season averaging 21 points, six rebounds and 4.6 blocked
shots to lead his team to the Mid Eastern Athletic
Conference title and garner regular season and
tournament most valuable player awards. He then vaulted himself into the national headlines when he sank the shot heard around the country, a four-footer in the last seven seconds of the game as the 15th seeded Pirates pulled off a thrilling, come-from-behind upset win over second seed Iowa State in a Midwest Regional first round tournament game in March. Though the Pirates bowed out in the next round against Georgetown where Williams had another good game Hampton and particularly their soft-spoken leader, made a lasting impressing on a lot of hearts and minds, including a lot of pro scouts. That was before the season ended and a record number of underclassmen and high schoolers decided they would make early entry to the NBA's June 27 Draft. Since then, Williams has played in the first pro camp, the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational, where he didn't play particularly well, and concentrated on individual workouts. "Sure, it's affected my draft status," Williams said of the early entrants Tuesday while taking a break from a workout in Las Vegas. He is at UNLV working on his game with one of the high schoolers, Tony Key of Kentucky. They are both represented by Las Vegas-based agent, Ron Delpit, who also represents Southern Cal guard Jeff Trepagnier. "Without them (the underclassmen and high school players), I'm sure I would have gone earlier. Now, I don't know where I'll go. I think I'll definitely go in the second round. But I think they have mostly affected the seniors, like me." Indeed, even the top-rated seniors like Duke's Shane Battier and Arizona's Loren Woods have been pushed back from the top of draft lists in favor of the youngsters. Williams, this year's top black college NBA prospect by a long shot, says all he's looking for is an opportunity. He changed agents recently from former Wake Forest and NBA player Delaney Rudd's Courtside Management to Delpit because he said Rudd seemed to be more focused on him playing overseas. Williams says Delpit, who has relationships with NBA teams going back to the days of Wilt Chamberlain, knows a lot of NBA general managers. "I wanted to see what I could do over here first," said Williams who made the change about three weeks ago. "I wanted to get an opportunity and make the best of it. As long as I get an opportunity, I'll be fine." The Charlotte Hornets came to Las Vegas to work him out and he's worked out at Phoenix and Denver. He's scheduled to work out again for the Hornets in Charlotte and has sessions scheduled in Boston, Orlando and New York before next week's draft. Phoenix, who does not have a first round pick, has expressed the most interest. They reportedly told him that if he's available with the 51st selection, they'll take him. Williams says he's been working on his ball-handling and shooting skills. Though among the best at blocking shots, he's still listed at only six-eight, 210 pounds, and may be even shorter. But he plays much bigger because of a huge wing span and quick jumping ability. "I've been told that they are looking at me as a two or three," said Williams, referring to either the shooting guard or small forward spots. "I've been working on taking one, two or three dribbles and then shooting pull-ups. I'd also like to get up to about 230." His college coach, Hampton's Steve Merfeld, feels he has something that's hard to come by. "What sticks out with Tarvis is his ability to block shots," Merfeld said, comparing him to former Philadelphia and current Atlanta shot blocker, Theo Ratliff. "That can't be taught. That's just his natural ability. There are not too many of those around and quite a few have made a living doing that. It's his timing, and his ability to go up two or three times in succession and bounce like he does. "His upside is he has NBA athletic ability. The downside is he didn't, out of necessity, get a chance to play on the perimeter with us. That's what he has to work on. And the fact that he doesn't have the size or body weight to bang with the NBA centers like Shaq, and even Mutombo." Merfeld was also not surprised that Williams didn't play well in Portsmouth. "He's not going to play well in those settings because to do so you've got to be selfish, and Tarvis is not selfish," said Merfeld. Unselfishness, special skills with the determination and desire to work hard have made NBA mainstays of several former black college players. Virginia Union's Ben Wallace, now a defensive and rebounding force for the Detroit Pistons, and Fayetteville State's Darrell Armstrong, a top-notch lead guard for the Orlando Magic, are two examples. Williams combines many of those same traits. Here's hoping he gets a chance to prove it. © 2001 Azeez Communications, Inc.
|
