Benny Williams
No. 13 – Syracuse Orange
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueAtlantic Coast Conference
Personal information
Born (2002-04-30) April 30, 2002 (age 21)
Bowie, Maryland, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeSyracuse (2021–present)
Career highlights and awards

Benjamin Williams (born April 30, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

High school career

Williams played junior varsity basketball for Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland for two years. He stood 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) as a freshman and was rejected by many Amateur Athletic Union programs. Williams grew 11 in (28 cm) from 2016 to 2018, and transferred to St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, where he repeated his sophomore year.[1] As a junior, he averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game, earning First Team All-Met honors.[2] For his senior season, he transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida due to concerns over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to facilities at St. Andrew's.[3] He averaged 16.3 points and six rebounds per game as a senior.[4] Williams was named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster.[5]

Recruiting

Williams was considered a five-star recruit by Rivals, and a four-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN.[6] He committed to playing college basketball for Syracuse over offers from Maryland, Georgetown and Miami (Florida).[7]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Benny Williams
SF / PF 		Bowie, MD IMG Academy (FL) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jun 4, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 21  247Sports: 40  ESPN: 32
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Syracuse 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  • "2021 Syracuse Orange Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 4, 2021.

College career

On February 28, 2022, Williams suffered a lower body injury in an overtime loss to North Carolina, which was later determined to be season-ending. He averaged 1.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.[8] As s sophomore, Williams averaged 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He was suspended for two games at the start of his junior season due to a violation of team rules.[9]

References

  1. ^ Ditota, Donna (September 25, 2020). "Syracuse basketball recruit Benny Williams' journey from dismissed little kid to towering 5-star prospect". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Emerman, Danny (June 6, 2020). "What to know about Benny Williams, Syracuse's 1st 2021 commit". The Daily Orange. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  3. ^ Waters, Mike (August 12, 2020). "How coronavirus concerns played a role in Syracuse basketball commit Benny Williams' transfer to IMG Academy". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  4. ^ Ditota, Donna (May 12, 2021). "Syracuse recruit Benny Williams' quest to prove he belongs: 'I've always wanted the spotlight'". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  5. ^ McAllister, Mike (May 22, 2021). "Benny Williams Named to Jordan Brand Classic Roster". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  6. ^ Gutierrez, Matthew (September 30, 2020). "'My goal is to win a championship': Benny Williams on his Syracuse vision". The Athletic. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  7. ^ Errigo, Michael (June 5, 2020). "Benny Williams of St. Andrew's commits to Syracuse over Maryland, Georgetown". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Syracuse Orange men's basketball freshman Benny Williams injured, out for season". ESPN. Associated Press. March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  9. ^ Waters, Mike (November 10, 2023). "Syracuse basketball player Benny Williams reinstated after missing two games due to suspension". The Post-Standard. Retrieved January 13, 2024.

External links

Categories