MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP – While some athletes may have been deeply affected by the type of year that senior Darius Williams has had, the Orchard View standout has handled the disappointment just fine.
Williams was a member of the 2020-21 Orchard View basketball team that went 17-1 in the regular season and had high hopes for a long run in the state tournament. But those dreams were dashed when the Cardinals had to forfeit their first game of districts and end their season due to COVID.
This fall Williams was expected to be a major star on the Orchard View varsity football team, but the Cardinals’ season was cancelled due to a lack of participation, and Williams played varsity soccer instead.
Despite all of that, Williams keeps a positive attitude and remains focused on the next opportunity.
“I smiled through the pain,” Williams said. “It gives me a lot of motivation because of how our season ended last year and then football. Then soccer didn’t go too well, so I was ready to play basketball. I’m a happy person and I don’t let people take that away from me, even when something is going bad.”
[1]The tough times ended for Williams with the coming of basketball season. The Cardinals needed a new primary scorer to replace departed All-Stater Ke’Ontae Barnes, and he has definitely filled the role.
Williams has two triple-doubles in four games so far this season. He had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 55-49 win over Big Rapids, and 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a loss to Muskegon Heights.
In the most recent MuskegonSports.com basketball leader board, Williams was averaging 25.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 9 assists and 5.3 steals per game.
“He’s a coach’s dream,” said Orchard View head coach Nick Bronsema. “He can run an offense, and nobody can pressure him into doing what he doesn’t want to do. He’s a point guard who makes wise decisions and plays pretty fast, which is a hard combination. He’s always under control, no matter the pace.”
Williams admits when he’s on the court, he’s almost always thinking of the play ahead, which helps him in the moment.
“I’m really just visualizing plays before they happen,” he said. “If I’m coming down the court, I’m visualizing the move in my head. If I’m open, I’ll take the shot and hopefully it goes in.”
[2]While Williams is having a lot of individual success, the OV team is not quite as polished as last year’s squad. The Cardinals are 2-2 heading into Tuesday’s game against Ludington, and have a lot of very young players in the starting lineup.
Williams takes pride in working with the younger guys and helping them develop their skills.
The younger players have shown flashes of their potential. In the Cardinals’ victory over North Muskegon during the holiday break, Williams led the team with 19 points, but three sophomores – Delaney Oakes, Keith McAllister and Stephon Oakes – all scored in double figures.
“It feels amazing to put up the stats that I have, but I can’t really take away from what my teammates are doing,” Williams said. “They’re the reason I’m getting what I’m getting. They’re knocking down shots and finding me when I’m open.”
“I’d say his biggest growth is his maturity,” Bronsema said about Williams. “He’s taking on a bigger role. He’s learning to become a leader, and I think it helps with the young guys that they know what they’ll get with him. As a teammate, they know they’ve got a warrior on their side. He’s looking to get them to a victory.”
[3]Williams understands the value of mentoring. He said that playing with his former teammate Barnes, now a freshman on the Grand Valley State University team, was a big help with his basketball development.
“He gave me confidence,” Williams said. “After seeing what he could do, I knew I could do it too, if I pushed myself. My 30-point games are because of him giving me confidence.”
Williams is hopeful that his career will end with at least a district title this season, but he will remain upbeat and optimistic, no matter what happens.
“He’s very outgoing,” Bronsema said about Williams. “He’s an excellent kid, and I’ve heard it numerous times that he and Ky Thomas, who’s a fellow senior, are known for stopping in the office and saying ‘hi’ to the administration. Their smiles are contagious.”
Williams hopes he will be remembered at OV as a positive influence who could maintain a smile during tough times.
“I just want them to say I was one of the biggest influences on and off the court that they’ve ever met,” he said.
[4]