Williams' scoring proficiency wowed many Keydet fans over the years, including 11-year-old Grayson Clark of Lexington. View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

View the Caroline County community page

Can Keydet pick lock into NBA's ranks?

Caroline native Reggie Williams seeks a shot at the NBA

Date published: 4/15/2008

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

PORTSMOUTH--

"I'm just so hyped right now," he said.

But that wasn't the Reggie Williams, who had just poured in a game-high 22 points by using an array of jump shots, drives to the basket and rim-rattling dunks in front of dozens of National Basketball Association scouts and executives.

That was the father of the Caroline County native and former Virginia Military Institute star, who led Division I in scoring the past two seasons in an unconventional up-tempo offense.

"People say he was a product of his team's offense and he came out here and showed he's an all-around player," the elder Williams said of why he was so excited. "His stat line is something a lot of people would be proud of."

Vying to get noticed

In addition to his point total, that stat line included six assists and a 9-of-13 shooting effort from the floor.

Williams (6-foot-5, 195 pounds) said he wanted to show he was more than just a scorer, while competing against seniors from major conferences, such as Georgetown's Patrick Ewing Jr. and Wisconsin's Brian Butch in an effort to impress NBA scouts.

"Being that I come from a small school, I don't have a lot of exposure," Williams said. "A lot of these guys are coming from big-name schools you see on TV every week. People have already seen them and evaluated them, so this is big for me."

Williams was held to five points in his team's second-round game, but bounced back with 22 in the final contest.

He was named to the all-tournament team and was presented the sportsmanship award.

However, tournament honors aren't the purpose of the Portsmouth Invitational.

The goal is to impress a scout enough that a team is willing to risk a draft pick.

Williams' newly hired agent, Jerry Dianis, said that's a possibility if his client keeps showing he's an all-around player.

Chris Monter, editor/publisher of College Basketball News, told The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot that Williams has "a better than average" chance of being drafted.

VMI's Reggie Williams is the ninth men's Division I player to lead the nation in scoring for at least two consecutive seasons. He joins a heralded list: YEAR PLAYER SCHOOL 1952-54 Frank Selvy Furman 1955-57 Darrell Floyd Furman 1957-60 Oscar Robertson Cincinnati 1968-70 Pete Maravich LSU 1976-78 Freeman Williams Portland State 1981-83 Harry Kelly Texas Southern 1996-98 Charles Jones Long Island 2003-05 Keydren Clark St. Peter's 2006-08 Reggie Williams VMI 2,526 points That's the Bowling Green native's collegiate career point total, which set new marks in the VMI and Big South record books and tied for 47th on the NCAA Division I career list.

Follow us on

Date published: 4/15/2008