UMass Lowell Gets a Good One
UMass Lowell scored what we expect will prove to be a very significant commitment from Winchendon senior Akeem Williams earlier this week.
The playmaking combo-guard had a steady interest of division I interest throughout his career, and even held a division I offer earlier this year, and has all the talent to make a quick and lasting impact in the Northeast-10 Conference.
“He’s going to score over 1000 points, have a heck of a career, and his parents are going to get to watch him play,” said Winchendon head coach Mike Byrnes.
Williams is also ideally suited for Lowell’s fast-paced system where he will have the spacing and freedom to do what he does best, make plays for himself and others.
“Coach [Herenda] said he wanted me to score baskets and get others involved,” Williams said. “He said I should fit in right away at either the one or the two. They run a lot, so whichever guard gets it first pushes it and gets them into offense.”
Williams spent the first three years of his high school career at Avon High School in Massachusetts where he put up staggering numbers before arriving at Winchendon in the fall of 2008. He quickly worked his way into the starting line-up last season and has been a steady contributor ever since.
A stocky guard with a quick first step and super tight handle Williams is well known for his ability to break people down off the dribble. What he may not get enough credit for is his passing ability and much improved perimeter jumper.
Byrnes said that UMass Lowell head coach Greg Herenda isn’t just getting a good player, he is getting an even better person.
“He is such a bulldozer on the court that people don’t realize what a great kid he is,” Byrnes said. “He has a phenomenal personality and is a great human being.”
UMass Lowell began to make a hard push for Williams late in the season but the deal wasn’t finalized until the exciting guard got the chance to visit their campus this weekend.
“I went down Sunday and met Coach G and got a really good vibe from him,” Williams said. “I knew a lot of the guys on the team and knew we’d play well together and after I talked to the coaches it just seemed like the perfect fit.”
Akeem Williams