It wasn’t just about packing his stat line anymore.
Bishop Loughlin senior standout Keith Williams came into his final season on the hardwood with a brand-new challenge ahead of him – to lead his team.
Williams is the first to admit that job wasn’t always easy and, at times, wasn’t one he was particularly interested in, but the Cincinnati-bound forward found a way to make it work. He didn’t just lead his team on the court, he set the tone for the entire season. It’s because of that leadership, as well as some pretty impressive stats, that Williams is this year’s Courier Life All-Brooklyn Player of the Year.
“My responsibility grew,” Williams said of his on-court role this season. “From my junior year to this, I needed to embrace the leadership role. Coach had high hopes for me and I just had to embrace that role this year and try to lead our guys to wins.”
Of course, being thrust into the leadership spotlight wasn’t a perfect transition for Williams. He was used to taking up residence on the block every night, more interested in knocking down bankshots and grabbing rebounds than serving as emotional support for his teammates.
“It was a challenge for me,” Williams said. “Coming into this year some of our big guys had left and now the spotlight was on me. I was like, ‘Dang, that’s a tough way to play,’ but speaking to coach helped and my teammates were always there for me.”
Loughlin’s season wasn’t always easy, but Williams’ play was nothing short of dominant throughout the year. He added a new dynamic to his game, pushing off the block and out of the post to become a serious outside shooting threat.
Williams finished third in the league in scoring, averaging 22.4 points per game, and was named the Catholic High School Athletic Association “AA” Player of the Year.
“You know other teams and other guys out there know that I’m strong. I can drive the hoop,” said Williams, who notched 14 different 20-point performances. “But guys were starting to play zone against us because of that. So I had to expand my game.”
His stats were impressive and his leadership was obvious, but Williams’ most important moment this season came without any time left on the clock in the Brooklyn-Queens semifinal. The senior drained three straight free throws to force overtime, a moment he’d hoped for his entire career and one that defined his senior year.
“I’m not going to lie, I’ve always had dreams like that, but to have it come true was crazy,” Williams said. “It was kind of just a stunning moment and it was definitely the coolest part of my year.”
Loughlin came up short of its city title hopes – falling to eventual champion Cardinal Hayes in the semifinals – but Williams can’t bring himself to be too disappointed in how the year played out. He stepped up as a leader, proved he’s a scoring threat from just about anywhere on the court and, now, he’s ready for the next step. Williams is anxious to turn in his Lions jersey for the Bearcats and while his high school career might be over, he knows the challenges aren’t.
“I can’t wait,” Williams said. “I’m staying in the gym, trying to stay sharp. I’m just looking to get ready for next year.”
