2021 Recruit Opens Up About Playing During a Pandemic

Each year, as the summer circuit showcases the nation’s top talent, coaches are able to see which players have made the biggest jump since the end of the high school season.

2021 basketball standout Drew Williams was among the top candidates to make a jump with B Maze Elite and he is determined to make an impression as basketball returns.

Over the weekend, Williams was able to get back in the gym with his team for the first time against real competition as a part of "The Opening" and made the most of his opportunity.

Williams put on a show from beyond the arc and was a contributor in winning efforts against Team Curry and the Alabama Fusion.

The unique event was a great opportunity for players and coaches to get back to some sense of normalcy, even if that meant playing under new policies and procedures.

“Not a lot of teams have been able to play,” said Williams, “It has been a great opportunity.”

Every precaution was taken to keep the athletes safe. Temperatures were checked, face masks could be seen across the sidelines and no teams were able to enter the gym until the previous group had exited the area.

As basketball begins to make a comeback, safety is clearly on the minds of all players, coaches and administrators involved.

After experiencing the new protocols, Williams admits that the new system was a bit difficult to get used to at first, but he appreciates the opportunity to play basketball again in a competitive environment.

While the global pandemic has shut down the United States over the past three months, it cannot stop time from ticking on the recruiting calendar or college coaches from searching for the next breakout star.

For the nation’s top high school athletes, the last few months have served as an incredible test of dedication and perseverance as they put in work on their own time, with no one watching and in many cases no access to the equipment they have become used to having.

For Williams, a routine of yoga, hill workouts and time alone in an empty gym have kept him ready for action. He has benefited from work with a trainer over the dead period and is seeing great results.

“I know a lot of people have had a rough time,” said Williams, “but I’ve seen nothing but God’s grace.”

After his big outing last weekend, he heard from a number of coaches for the first time. He has been able to talk with plenty of coaches using non-traditional methods over the extended NCAA dead period.

Williams says that he has spent a lot of time on Zoom as coaches pitch their style of play and campus lifestyle over video.

“It’s just like an orientation,” said Williams.

These coaches walk each player through a number of details that would be presented in person under normal circumstances. Distances from the gym to classes, freshman move in dates and more are fit into these unique meetings between player and coach during the NCAA’s continued dead period.

Some coaches even show footage of players that had success and fit the mold of the player on the call.

For Williams, it is always an honor to see the names that are drawn in comparison. One that stands out to him is Talen Horton-Tucker, a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I think that we are very similar, just in terms of our versatility,” said Williams.

Versatility has been one of the key words of Williams’s recruitment and is what drew in schools like Iowa State, Murray State and Wichita State in recent months.

Other schools currently in the picture include Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Williams believes that now, more than ever, it is important to keep his options open and to discuss each option with his family as they search for the best fit.

"I'm ready," said Williams. "Any coach that's interested can contact me."

As these pop-up events continue and players find their way back into full form, local leaders around the country continue to evaluate their options for the 2020-21 high school season.

While there are many unknowns around the world of basketball, Williams is dedicated to remaining prepared for whatever opportunities present themselves.