Oakland High boys recognized at midcourt after program's first title

SAN FRANCISCO >> Oakland High star point guard Money Williams went to his first Warriors game when he was 10 years old.

He remembers being in awe when Stephen Curry hit a half-court shot. He had a bird's eye view of the game, sitting all the way in the nose bleeds because that's all his family could afford, he said.

Seven years later, Williams found himself at Chase Center alongside his high school teammates, who were invited by the Warriors to celebrate the Wildcats making history a few weeks earlier when they won the program's first state championship. “It feels good,” a beaming Williams said. The Oakland High team, which stunned Buena High School in the Division III title game March 10, was honored at center court March 28 shortly before tip-off for the Warriors-pelicans game.

The teens looked up as the jumbotron played highlights from the team's historic run before the group was greeted with a loud cheer from the home crowd.

“It's big for these kids,” Oakland High coach Orlando Watkins said. “Half of these kids, the Warriors are their favorite team. Steph is their favorite player. And now to be here on the court where he's playing at, seeing the game and then after the game, seeing Steve Kerr , that's big.”

Before the game, Kerr discussed the importance of celebrating the success of local teams, noting Golden State has welcomed past champions.

“The game is connected from the youth level all the way through the NBA,” Kerr said.

This is a memory that will stick with Williams, a graduating senior who committed to play at the University of Montana next season.

“It feels good, we made history,” said Williams, who is a Klay Thompson fan. “We're putting on for the city and it feels good that the Golden State Warriors are acknowledging our accomplishments.”