Williams hitting the record books
Dec. 31, 2009 - Regina Leader-Post
By Ian Hamilton
Jamal Williams is on the move.
With each Canada West regular-season game he plays down the stretch this season -- his fifth and final campaign with the University of Regina Cougars men's basketball team -- Williams will continue his climb up a number of career lists in the team's record book.
On Nov. 27, Williams scored the 1,000th point of his Cougars career during an 89-73 loss to the visiting Fraser Valley Cascades. As Regina gets set for the second half of its season, Williams is 11th on the team's all-time scoring list with 1,024 points -- just nine behind Ryan Michell for 10th.
"It's nice that I'm going to be remembered," the 23-year-old Regina product said Wednesday, when the Cougars continued their preparations for Saturday's exhibition game against the Williston State College Tetons in Williston, N.D.
"I was going through in my mind the guys who I know played here. To be 11th was surprising to me because a lot of good players have come through this program."
Williams is one of them -- and not just because of his statistics.
"You get guys who define an era and he's for sure that guy," said Cougars head coach James Hillis, noting Williams has been one of the "stalwarts of the team" since becoming a starter in his second season.
"He's our go-to guy right now. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again: He's a guy that has been unique in his ability to play all five positions."
That along with his intelligence on the floor -- "He's one of the smartest guys I've coached in terms of his basketball IQ," Hillis said -- has allowed Williams to put his name all over the Cougars' career lists.
Aside from his point total, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound forward is 10th in field goals (362, 17 behind Bill Johnson for ninth), ninth in free throws (249, one behind teammate Paul Schubach for eighth and nine back of Joel Hunter for seventh), second in rebounds (635, 88 off Glen Nelson's record), second in offensive rebounds (234, 38 behind Nelson), fourth in defensive rebounds (401, 26 short of Kevin Gilroy for third), fourth in assists (229, 33 back of Hunter for third), and tied with Schubach for fourth in games played (four back of Zach Michell for third and five off the team record shared by Hunter and Bryden Wright).
"When we recruited him, we thought he'd have an impact," Hillis said of Williams, who had a stellar RIBL career with the Campbell Tartans. "There were a few questions (from others) when we recruited him about his conditioning, but we saw a real diamond in the rough -- and I think that has been borne out."
Williams' first opportunity to improve on his numbers, as well as those of the 4-4 Cougars, is Jan. 8 in Vancouver against the UBC Thunderbirds. Regina plays seven of its final 12 regular-season games on the road.
"In the first half, we had some young guys who we mixed into the rotation and systems that we run," Williams said. "Now they have that whole semester of experience, so I think the second half will be a little better."
Personally, Williams wants a second half filled with team-oriented things -- a good stretch drive, a top-two finish in the Prairie Division, a home playoff series, a trip to the conference Final Four, a berth at nationals and, if possible, a national title.
Williams will have to play a big role in that pursuit.
"He has got to continue to put up the numbers he has already," Hillis said. "He's played well; he's played like a fifth-year should. We need that to continue."