Another import arriving early next year could help Geelong Supercats win their next championship banner, the club has announced.
Anthony ‘AJ’ Williams would join the team after “a successful high school and collegiate career”, the Supercats said.
Williams played in New York’s “famous” Lincoln High School team before graduating from Clark Atlanta University this year.
He attended an Aussie Basketball Combine in Atlanta in September where the 183cm point guard caught the eye of Supercats head coach Leon O’Neill, the club said.
A two-time team captain at Clark Atlanta University, Williams was named Conference Player of the Year as a senior in the 2017/18 NCAA season. In his two years with the Clark Atlanta Panthers, Williams led his team to the NCAA Division 2 tournament twice.
O’Neill was looking forward to “what he can bring to the new-look men’s team”.
“The retirement of a number of players following the 2018 season, including Geelong stalwarts Nathan Herbert and Jamie Medved, means we’re looking to play a different style of basketball in 2019,” O’Neill said.
“AJ allows us to do that while at the same time providing a great role model for some of the younger guards in the program. He’s been a leader in every team he’s played.”
O’Neill said Williams was also impressive off the court.
“AJ is a very quick scoring point guard and will fit in perfectly with the offence we want to run but, more importantly, he’s a very personable, easy-to-talk-to, good person.
“We always try to sign players that fit in our team culture and (who) will uphold the reputation of the Geelong Supercats. AJ is a great guy and will bring a lot to the club both on and off the court.”
Williams will join fellow import Demarcus Gatlin, who re-signed last month for his fourth season.
