BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

A year of playing professional basketball in France left Reggie Williams feeling a bit homesick.

That's why the Caroline County native is enjoying his return to the United States with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

The Skyforce is a National Basketball Development League team based in Sioux Falls, S.D.

It's affiliated with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat.

"It's good to be back in the states with people that speak your language and seeing familiar things like Walmart," Williams said in a recent telephone interview.

Williams' return has been met with another familiarity--scoring plenty of points.

The 6-foot-6 swingman led the nation in scoring in back-to-back seasons at Virginia Military Institute.

He's third in the NBDL in scoring at 26.6 points per game through 14 contests.

He's shooting 60 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line. He scored a season-high 43 points on Wednesday against the Austin Toros, and he's hoping his strong start will earn him a call-up to the NBA.

"The NBA is the dream for me," Williams said. "Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to play in the NBA. That's the top goal on my list."

Sioux Falls head coach Tony Fritz said the NBA is a realistic goal for Williams.

He said plenty of teams have expressed interest in Williams, and the attraction increased last week after a showcase in Boise, Idaho, where players on all 16 NBDL teams performed for NBA scouts.

Fritz said Williams played "extremely well." He averaged 29 points and nine rebounds per game and was voted one of the top five players by NBA scouts and NBDL coaches.

"He brings professionalism. He's a great kid. He just goes about his business. He never complains. I love everything that he's done for our team," Fritz said. "But I hope he's gone. I hope he gets that call-up."

Any NBA team can sign Williams to a contract.

Four NBDL players have been called up this season.

That's why Williams said that although playing for JDA Dijon Bourgogne in France was a good experience, he wanted to get his name back in NBA circles.

Williams said he could make more money overseas, but believes the NBDL keeps him closer to his dream.