For the third time in three years, Naasir Williams will pack his book bag up at the start of September and commute to a brand new school. The Harlem native started at The Hun School in New Jersey, transferred last year to Rice and, with the closing of the legendary institution, will take his game to Cardinal Hayes this coming season.
All of that is enough to make even the mentally strongest teenager’s head spin. Williams has taken it all in stride, though.
“I didn’t leave any on bad terms,” the speedy, 5-foot-8 rising senior guard said. “When you go into new systems and you buy in, it’s not a big deal and not hard to blend in.”
Williams is likely to get the ball right off the bat at Hayes and run the offense. He’ll have an array of weapons to work with, like future Division I players Amadou Sidibe, Jalen Jenkins and Fadil Yacoubou as well as former Rice teanmates Tyler Wilson and Shavar Newkirk. It’s a good thing that he spent this summer working strictly on becoming more of a floor general – so much so that it’s part of his Facebook name.
“You gotta be a pass-first point guard,” said Kimani Young, his New Heights 16s AAU coach. “He can knock down the open shot, but he’s gotta be able to run a team.”
Williams got the opportunity in July with New Heights, helping them to the Adidas Invitational, Summer Classic East and Summer in the City crowns, and also under Young with the Harlem squad at Nike’s Battle of the Boroughs event Sunday at Gauchos Gym. St. Anthony (N.J.) guard Kyle Anderson, one of the top players in the Class of 2012, made Harlem go, but Williams had his moments. His layup with 3:42 left in the semifinals against Brooklyn put the team up 55-54, a lead it would not relinquish.
“More than anything, his confidence [has improved],” legendary talent evaluator Tom Konchalski said. “He’s gonna be a very good player. He has a big-time feel for the game.”
The diminutive point has already visited Monmouth and Marist and holds offers from Norfolk State and Robert Morris. Young thinks he can still improve enough to become an Atlantic-10 player if he has a big year at Hayes.
“I think he matured a great deal this summer,” Young said. “He’s a tough kid, plays with a lot of emotion, but when he channels those emotions, he’s great.”
Williams had a backup role at Rice, where Young was also an assistant last year. He figures to be featured far more prominently at Hayes, a team Konchalski says projects to be “almost as good as anyone in the city.”
The Cardinals could certainly use a floor general to be the engine.
“I just can’t wait to get to school and get on the court with those guys and build camaraderie,” Williams said. “It’s gonna be a big year for us.”
