The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
UConn signee Williams captures Naismith award
Christyn Williams already knew that Friday was going to be a day she would never forget. The UConn signee had a chance to end her high school career with an elusive state championship.
The Central Arkansas Christian guard’s day began with her becoming the ninth future UConn player to be named the winner of the Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year.
The 5-foot-11 Williams entered the Arkansas 4A championship game against Riverview with averages of 26.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game. She has scored in double figures in every game as a senior. In the postseason, her numbers have jumped to 31.1 points, 14.1 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest, including averages of 37 points, 16.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the state tournament as she increased her totals to 45 games with at least 30 points and eight 40-point efforts.
Williams will graduate with more than 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 250 assists and 250 steals in her high school career, but the state title was her No. 1 goal coming into her senior season.
“We’ve been playing together since third grade. This
is our last year, so we have to go out with a bang,” Williams told the Register in January. “I think this is the best team that we’ve had here.”
Tamika Williams was the first UConn recruit to earn the Naismith honor in 1998. Two years later it was Diana Taurasi’s turn and two years after that Ann Strother was the recipient. Maya Moore was the winner in 2006 and ’07. With Williams earning the prestigious award, it marks the fifth time in the last eight years the winner was a UConn signee, joining Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2011), Breanna Stewart (2012), Katie Lou Samuelson (2015) and Megan Walker (2017).
The honors have been coming in fast and furious for Williams. She was named one of eight finalists for the Morgan Wootten Award, presented annually to the national player of the year by the organizers of the McDonald’s All American Game. Williams and fellow UConn signee Olivia Nelson-Ododa are both finalists for that honor, and on Thursday it was announced they were both selected to play in the girls’ game at the Jordan Brand Classic in New York on April 8.
After playing in the two national all-star games, Williams’ focus will be on getting started at UConn. It won’t be easy, as the previous national players of the year who played for Geno Auriemma at UConn know all too well.
“Her and I are pretty cool so I’d tell her to just be prepared,” Walker said. “Soak up all (the national recognition), enjoy it right now and be ready for next year.”