LEWISTON — Joe Mihalich doesn’t know whether Demetrius Williamson is a PF or SF, but he’s sure of another acronym.
“Demetrius,” the Niagara men’s basketball coach says, “has CEO written all over him.”
The 21-year-old from Chicago is perhaps the Purple Eagles’ most accomplished academic.
Last month, NU’s College of Business Administration presented Williamson with one of seven Everett Ockerman Awards for academic excellence. Williamson, a senior carrying an A average, was the marketing department’s recipient.
“He’s a really special kid, and clearly he’s going to be very successful,” Mihalich says. “He’s a very reliable person. Off the floor, you can see how reliable he is, to win that type of award.
“He’s also very reliable on the floor. He knows the offense, knows the defense, he’s detail-oriented, understands his assignments.”
Williamson averaged 18 minutes per game last season, his first with Niagara after transferring from Bakersfield (Calif.) Community College. Only the Purple Eagles five starters played more.
Standing 6-foot-6 and blessed with enough athletic ability that he was originally recruited to Missouri to compete in hurdling and jumping events — and once performed a windmill dunk from the free throw line while in Bakersfield — Williamson backed up both forward spots on last year’s 19-10 squad.
“I thought there were times he played well,” Mihalich says, “and there were other times when he was rusty.”
Despite Williamson’s reliability, his jump shot was erratic. Williamson connected on 21 3-pointers, but at a rate of only 28.8 percent. He was even worse inside the arc, shooting 26.3 percent on 2-point field goals, and 52.2 percent at the free throw line.
Williamson said that he’s capable of being a more accurate shooter.
“Starting with the end of last season, I’ve seen my confidence rise tremendously,” Williamson says. “I’ve worked on my shot day in and day out, trying to perfect it. Ball-handling and defense are two other areas I’ve worked on.”
Williamson says he’s prepared to assert his personality more on this year’s team.
“We have a young team,” Williamson says. “It’s a chance for me to expose my leadership, and those type of characteristics.”
Away from the gym, Williamson has taken to mentoring his roommate Kashief Edwards, another hyper-athletic forward who redshirted as a freshman last season.
“Coach has encouraged me to be kind of like his big brother,” Williamson says.
Edwards couldn’t ask for a better role model. Williamson completed a marketing internship in Chicago over the summer, and is on track to graduate in May. He plans to pursue a Master’s degree in marketing next year, while fulfilling his basketball eligibility.
“Growing up, my studies and education was always first,” he says. “My parents and grandparents always instilled in me to have that persistence.”
His parents, Demetrius Williamson Sr. and Benita Gibson, were in attendance last month when Williamson received his Ockerman Award.
“My name being Williamson, I was one of the last ones,” he says. “Walking to the podium, I had seen everybody got certificates. I looked on the table and didn’t see any certificate for me. So, for a split second I got nervous. But then I saw this very nice plaque with my name on it. At that moment, I was shocked.
“When I got that award, it made me proud that I’m being honored for something I’ve worked hard doing.”
Sports
Related Photos
MEN'S BASKETBALL: NU’s Williamson is academic ace
- Sports
-
-
Wolverines tame the Lions
Three Niagara Falls Wolverines players hit double-figures in Thursday’s 74-45 Niagara Frontier League boys basketball win over visiting Lockport on “Senior Night” in the Wolvearena.
-
Running miles for acres
Runners of all shapes and sizes will run 10 miles for 52 acres of land this weekend at the 2012 YMCA/Camp Kenan Y-10 race downtown.
-
Miller, Sabres blank the Bruins
With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a 6-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
-
Roy-Hart swimmers dominated
Pictured are members of the Royalton-Hartland boys varsity swim team, which recently captured its sixth straight Niagara-Orleans League title and swept the annual league meet in Akron by winning every event. From left, first row, are Josh Beabout, Kurtis Parker, Roy Phipps and Zach Yates; second row, Cody Jones, Luke Brauer and Patrick Jones; third row, Jason Beabout and Lyle Wagner.
-
Syracuse beats Georgetown in OT, 64-61
Kris Joseph scored a career-high 29 points, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime, and No. 2 Syracuse beat 12th-ranked Georgetown 64-61 on Wednesday night to give coach Jim Boeheim his 880th career win.
-
Lions sweep Lewiston-Porter
It was a full moon and the vampires and werewolves were out in the Lady Lions Den.
-
Cotto training in Lockport
Professional boxer and World Boxing Organization Lightweight champion of the world Jose Miguel Cotto (32-2-1) has chosen Lockport as his training camp for his upcoming fight with Jose Luis Castillo (63-11-1) on March 24 in Houston Texas.
-
Roy-Hart dominates boys all-League swm meet
Undefeated (10-0) regular-season champion Royalton-Hartland dominated the competition Tuesday taking first place in all 11 events at the 2012 Niagara-Orleans League boys individual swim championships.
-
Ruff stuff
As if the Buffalo Sabres haven't endured enough injuries already this season. Add coach Lindy Ruff to the list.
-
Super Bowl draws record viewers on NBC
For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched television show in U.S. history.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Red Wings and Maple Leafs to Play at Big House
Parade for the New York Giants Super Bowl Champs
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Giants Beat Patriots 21-17 to Win Super Bowl
Manning Named Super Bowl MVP
Giants Beat Patriots in Super Bowl 46
Rodgers Wins AP MVP at 'NFL Honors'
Aaron Rodgers Wins AP NFL MVP
Martin, Five Others Elected to Football Hall
Brady, Manning Headline Super Bowl XLVI
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Rangers' Hamilton Confirms Alcohol Relapse
Goodell: Player Safety Is Top Priority
Coaches Update Injuries Ahead of Super Bowl
Pats Mesko Fulfills American Dream at Super Bowl
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Gronkowski's Ankle Still 'Day to Day'
Umenyiora Explains Missed Media Session
Fans Having a 'Super' Time in Indianapolis
