Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 31, 1990 TAG: 9003310179
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That list includes George Lynch, who just completed his first season at North Carolina; Curtis Blair, a rising star at Richmond, and Russell Turner, who is one of the top big men in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference at Hampden-Sydney.
Williams is only 14 years old. The Woodrow Wilson Middle School student has yet to make a high school team, let alone match those players' accomplishments.
But as Hawks coach Joe Gaither, who tutored Lynch, Blair, Turner and two other AAU All-Americans, says, "At this age, he's [Williams] on the same level and probably ahead of some of those guys.
"If he stays hungry for the game, keeps working at it and continues to progress, he's got a great future ahead of him."
Gaither is so high on Williams because of what he already has done.
Lynch, Turner, Blair, University of Pittsburgh defensive end Keith Hamilton and Flint Hill Prep senior Mark Ward were named All-Americans after playing a couple of seasons with the Hawks. Williams accomplished that in his first year of AAU competition.
Williams made All-America last year while playing in the 13-and-under national tournament in Indianapolis. This weekend, the Hawks are competing in the 14-and-under state AAU championship at Patrick Henry High and Breckenridge Middle School.
The winner of Sunday's 7 p.m. title game at PH will advance to the national championships Aug. 4-11 in New Orleans.
"Issac's the youngest All-American I've had," Gaither said. "If I had to compare, I'd say he's pretty close to Lynch at this stage. He's ahead of their pace. He just needs to continue to progress."
Williams said the accomplishments of players such as Lynch and Blair, both two-time All-Americans, have motivated him.
"I wanted to follow in their footsteps and do even better," said Williams, who like most teen-agers is a little uncomfortable talking about himself. "I knew about the guys who had come before me, and I'd hoped one day to make All-America. It was something I wanted to achieve. It was a great experience to be an All-American in my first year, but it really surprised me."
Although he said he has been playing pickup basketball for as long as he can remember, Williams didn't become involved in an organized program until he met Gaither in 1987.
Gaither, who coached the Inner City Athletic Association's first AAU team to the 15-and-under state championship and a third-place finish nationally in 1986, had gained a reputation as a coach who cared about his players and could help them improve.
"Word had gotten around about him [Gaither]," Williams said. "I knew he was a good coach. I just wanted to get with him as a player so I could learn and get better. I'm just glad I started off when I did."
According to Gaither, Williams, who also plays football for the ICAA, is simply a great athlete.
"He has so much natural athletic ability," Gaither said. "He's going to be just as good in football as he is basketball.
Williams currently plays two-guard for the Hawks.
"I look at him to be a two-guard or a wing player," Gaither said. "We let our guys play all positions, because at this age you can't really project what a guy will do.
"He's quick, with outstanding foot speed. He's a good ball handler, and he can rebound. We do need to work on his outside shooting."
Beyond All-America status, Williams has something else in common with Lynch, Turner and Blair. Like that trio, he also will attend Patrick Henry High.
"I'm looking forward to playing against better players," Williams said. "It's a matter of working hard to keep improving my game. You can't stay at the same level."
By taking notice of what's happened before, Williams has realized what continued improvement in basketball can do for him.
"I just have to make sure I keep my academics straight, and then I can follow up with basketball," he said. "I hope I can keep improving through the 12th grade and get a college scholarship."
by CNB