On May 17-19, Phenom Hoops will host our first Live period of the spring season with our G3 Showcase in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The event is set to have dozens of college players from multiple states and various areas throughout the Carolinas. Over the next week, we will be taking a closer look at some of the players that college coaches should be prioritizing. In this article, we will be taking a closer look at MJ Williams of Team Trezz Phillips.
For those who haven’t yet seen him play, buckle up. There have been plenty of exciting sub six-foot guards to come through North Carolina over the years, and Williams is certainly one of the best. This past season, he was nothing short of spectacular for Farmville Central. On a roster loaded with productive seniors, Williams shined as a leader. He averaged 15.7 PPG, 2.3 APG, and 1.1 SPG while shooting 49% from the floor and 34% from distance. Additionally, he was a massive part of their title run—where they ultimately lost to Reidsville in overtime.
Regardless, Williams has been on an absolute tear this travel ball season. Here’s what we said about him following the Hoopstate Challenge, “In a time where so many ball-handling guards are obsessed with high scoring totals, MJ Williams’ identity and approach are incredibly refreshing. Between his high IQ, rugged defensive nature, and brilliance as a creator, Williams is truly capable of dominating his assignment on both ends of the floor. He’s extremely quick and, accompanied with his tight handle, is very difficult for opponents to keep in front. Williams touches the paint seemingly whenever he desires, showing the ability to finish through contact or make precise passes to set up others. He scores the ball at a healthy rate from all levels, highlighting polish, craftiness, and deep range, but consistently hunts for the best available shot. Defensively, Williams is a monster. He’s so quick, physical, and truly mirrors opponents at the point of attack. He’s able to frequently outwork opponents for rebounds and loose balls while forcing turnovers at a quality rate. Stamina is not usually something that stands out, as most of these guys are in such great shape, but Williams’ ability to play basically the entire game at maximum effort is very impressive. The scoring was noteworthy, but his elite defense, playmaking, and overall leadership should capture the attention of scholarship-level coaches.”
Furthermore, it’s rare to see a player with his level of consistency—especially nowadays. Not only does Williams bring a unique level of toughness, intelligence, and leadership to every game, but he shows it on basically every possession. There’s never any worry or fear about his desire to compete, and he always seems to deliver. He’s rapidly becoming one of the best floor generals in the state. Williams is simply a winner and impactful two-way player who should be a major target over the coming months. College coaches can see him at our G3 Live.