subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Published: November 09, 2008 12:09 am    print this story  

MEN'S BASKETBALL: NU’s Williamson is academic ace

By Jonah Bronstein
E-mail Jonah

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.”

print this story  

Photos


None/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

COLLECTORS
Exp. collectors, high hrly., low cash goals, 20% overage, 500 4 hitting, Chuck @ 597-2538...>MORE

Certified Pharmacy Tech's & Certified Medication Tech's
Certified Pharmacy Tech’s & Certified
Medication Tech’s Competitive wages. Call Lisa McKensie Ransomville Manor 79
...>MORE

Echo Tech
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY TECHNICIAN, Full-time. Certification by ARDMS or registry eligible. Up to $7500 Sign On Bonus!; MEDICAL...>MORE

Nurse Practitioner
NURSE Practitioner, PT including one evening, resume 533 Meadow Dr, Suite 2, N. Tona, NY 14120 or fax 693-4807...>MORE

Customer Service
Customer Service
CARPET CLEANING
$400-$600/week
Our customers have cleaning fever. Openings for men & wom
...>MORE

Job Fair
HUMAN SERVICES
JOB FAIR
For COMMUNITY MISSIONS

Program Locations/Job Opportunities
working w/c
...>MORE

Customer Service
Customer
Service
Immed. F/T position.
Includes weekends. Must be customer
oriented, computer
...>MORE

Facilities Director
Facilities
Director 
Strategically manage commercial and residential portfolios onsite in US and Canada. Exe
...>MORE

RN
RN, Director of Quality / Education: to plan, organize, develop and direct all staff development and CQI programs. North...>MORE

Driver
Drivers CDLA. Must be able to go to Canada
Good pay, great benefits.
Call 278-2000 Ext. 106
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Chevy 2007 Impala LT
CHEVY 2007 Impala LT
25,800 mi, ext. warranty
Exc. Cond, $16,500
297-2199
...>MORE

1991 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1991 Caravan, exc body, runs great, full power, needs TLC. $1200 or BO. Call 754-4608....>MORE

Chevy 2003 Impala
CHEVY 2003 Impala
25,600 miles, loaded
Exc. Cond. $10,000/bo
297-2199
...>MORE

Ford 1999 Ranger
FORD 1999 Ranger, 5 speed, 130K, fair condition, $2000 or best offer, 716-310-0531...>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
Dodge 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white 860-2854...>MORE

Mercury 1999 Grand Marquis
Mercury ‘99 Grand Marquis 4 dr, leather, all options, 49k org mi., showroom cond. $6000. 860-2854, ...>MORE

1996 Mazda L3000
MAZDA L3000 pick-up 1996, 6 cyl, runs good, new tires & battery, just inspect., $1500. 284-7529....>MORE

1998 Ford F150
FORD 1998 F-150 XLT, 2-WD, supercab, 152k, good cond. $2900 or BO. 297-9184 or 698-5418....>MORE

VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE

Ford 1995 Crown Victoria
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria 4 dr, loaded, new tires must see & drive $3500. red. 860-2854...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index