Freshman Williams ‘just so relentless’
Newcomer’s drive may earn her a spot in the starting five
The difficulties freshmen face when transitioning from high school to college athletics have been chronicled for years: eager teens being overwhelmed by harder practices, faster paces and higher expectations. It’s rare, but sometimes a freshman will overcome those obstacles in record time and earn a coveted starting spot. UConn freshman Christyn Williams might just be one of those athletes.
When Williams steps onto the court in a Huskies jersey for the first time, it’ll likely be as one of the starting five. The spot won’t be given because of the inarguable talent she possesses or because UConn’s roster isn’t as stacked as usual, but because of the intense drive with which she practices and plays.
“She’s just so relentless, and she’s so goal-oriented,” said Steve Quattlebaum, Williams’ high school coach at Central Arkansas Christian School. “She sets high goals for herself, and she’s just relentless in the pursuit of those goals.”
The praise for Williams has been almost constant since practice began a few weeks ago, with UConn coach Geno Auriemma talking at length about her aggressive mindset and physicality on the court.
Her transition has been quick, with her natural confidence mak-
“It gets tough at times, but I look forward to it because you learn so much and coach (Auriemma) teaches you so much every day — all the coaches on the coaching staff do.” — Christyn Williams, UConn freshman
ing her feel more comfortable in practices. She's impressed her teammates with her fast pace, and her energy is apparent on the court.
It would appear that Williams has avoided the struggles of transitioning to college, but that isn't the case. Practices are still hard, she said, but she's eager to soak in all the knowledge she can and play up to expectations.
“It gets tough at times, but I look forward to it because you learn so much and coach (Auriemma) teaches you so much every day — all the coaches on the coaching staff do,” she said. “You learn so much, and you learn a lot from your teammates. So we just come in here every day and try to get better.”
What Williams lacks in college experience and knowledge of UConn's systems, she makes up for in effort and aggression. Her drive is what helped her achieve greatness in high school, and is undoubtedly a reason behind her potentially receiving a starting spot.
Williams has always been talented, but her determination brought her where she is today. In high school, she practiced and worked out to the point of concern, Quattlebaum said. There was rarely a day she wasn't in the gym during the years he coached her, up until her senior year when he finally succeeded in talking her into taking a few weeks off to rest.
Looking back on those days, Williams just laughs. To her, there was nothing concerning about spending all that time in the gym. She was working on her craft, perfecting her shot, taking another step toward her ultimate goals.
“He used to tell me to rest,” Williams said, shaking her head. “I'm like, ‘What is that?' ”
All of those extra hours honing her skills resulted in a level of play that exceeded anything her coach had ever seen. Williams put together a high school career that doesn't look real on paper: 3,500 points, 1,261 rebounds, a careerhigh 46-point game, an average of no less than 26 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
In her sophomore season alone, she scored 30 points or more in 20 games and 40 points or more in three games. That was the season Quattlebaum knew she was more talented than he had ever anticipated. His team was young and inexperienced, he said, and Williams put them on her back and took them to the state tournament, where she averaged 31 points.
“She was just unbelievable, and by herself she just willed us to the state championship game. … I've never seen anything like her,” Quattlebaum said.
By the end of her high school career, Williams had a wide range of accolades to show for her work. She was a member of the U17, U18 and U19 national teams and won 11 player of the year awards.
With drive as intense as Williams', Quattlebaum isn't surprised to learn how well she's acclimated to UConn's practices. Her love of learning and improving have made Williams push herself over the years, and it's paid off.
Now, with a starting spot firmly within reach, she's looking to do the same on an entirely different level at UConn.
“My plan was just to come in here and take everything in and learn as much as possible,” Williams said. “I'm taking it day by day and trying to get better each day.”