article on E. Williams above..in the yahoo news

[MR.HAYWARD]

nm

[muball]

Interesting Eric and Brett being double teamed often and still contributing alot. Sounds like solid players for MU in the future. 

[VegasWarrior77]

The article lists him at 6'-8" tall.  Has he grown?

[🏀]

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/01/28/champions_sun/sports/020409_williams_feat_ch.txt

Opposing teams had a clear strategy against the Cy Springs boys basketball team.

Do everything possible to stop Panthers 6-foot-8 senior forward Erik Williams and let his teammates try to beat you.

Teams couldn't stop the Marquette-bound Williams through most of the season – he's averaging 24 points per game, among the top scorers in Greater Houston.

But the Panthers – who were picked to finish third in Class 5A-District 15 - weren't having much success as a team.

Williams was Cy Springs' only returning starter, and it appeared as if he'd finish his high school basketball career with just one playoff game – a first round upset loss to Katy Taylor as a sophomore.

Even when the Panthers were struggling earlier this season, Williams never doubted his team's chances of reaching the playoffs.

"It was tough, but we just knew we had to stay together," Williams said. "We knew what we had to do was stay mentally tough. Physically, we had the talent, but what was going to separate us from going to the playoffs was being mentally tough. It's a long season, and we have a great coaching staff."

Cy Springs (10-16, 4-4) is tied with Cy Ridge (10-13, 4-4) and Cy-Fair (8-14, 4-4) for District 15's fourth and final playoff spot.

The Panthers reached the third round of the playoffs last season, but Williams was out for the season with a broken foot.

Williams, 18, admits that he tried to carry the load offensively at times early in the season.

"It's the first time being together on varsity, and we're just getting used to each other," Williams said. "(Earlier on), I felt like I was forcing stuff, since the team was looking at me to step it up because I had the most experience. Now, we're looking at each other to step it up."

Cy Springs coach John Harmatuk has mixed up the lineup and found a budding star in sophomore Marquel McKinney, who scored a game-high 17 points when Cy-Fair ran a Box and One, holding Williams to just six points, in a crucial 44-30 Cy Springs victory on Jan. 27.

Panthers' forward Jonathan Uribe also capitalized on the Bobcats' efforts to limit Williams, converting on three 3-pointers.

Harmatuk said the key for Williams has been to contribute in other ways, even if he's not able to score points.

"(Cy-Fair) did a fantastic job of taking Erik Williams away scoring-wise, but I told Erik, you can't let your offense dictate how he does anything else," Harmatuk said. "He blocked shots and rebounded (in the second half). You've got to make plays in other ways if you want to be great."

Williams said the experience of facing double teams and Box and One defenses – which he expects to see -- " pretty much every night from here on out." -- has made him stronger as he prepares to join Marquette, a team currently ranked in the Top 10.

He'll join former Cy Christian standout Hasheem Thabeet (UConn) in the ultra-competitive Big East Conference, if Thabeet doesn't declare for the NBA Draft.

"I know I'll be playing against a lot of guys that are bigger, faster and stronger," Williams said. "And I'll need to be there mentally just like how I am now."

"I see how hard Marquette is playing and it just motivates me to keep on playing hard. It's not going to be easy next year."

Harmatuk said teams may try to limit Williams this season, but "I don't think you can keep Erik quiet every single night."

And Williams' first playoff victory as a Panther could be on the way, too.

"Playoffs are all about matchups, all you have to do is get in there," Harmatuk said. "When Erik is focused and concentrated, he's fantastic. He just needs to keep that up."