Lowndes Basketball Player Jarcqves Williams Voted ITG Next Georgia Male Athlete of the Month
Lowndes High Vikings senior Jarcqves Williams is the ITG Next Georgia Athlete of the Month for January. He is a point guard for coach Rashad Benjamin’s Viking basketball team, and his outstanding performance has helped propel Lowndes to a 17-2 season so far, with a perfect 4-0 region record. Coach Benjamin says his team would not be where they are without Williams’ hard work and dedication.
“We would not have enjoyed the success we have had so far this season without Jarcqves,” Benjamin admits. “He has really spearheaded the whole season for us.”
With Williams running the point, the Vikings have enjoyed two separate winning streaks this season: a seven game streak to start the season, then following back-to-back losses, the Vikings have reeled off 10 wins in a row. So far through the first 19 games, Williams is averaging 10 points per game, while adding 5.1 assists per game. But, as his coach points out, it’s his point guard’s defensive play that really gets him excited about Williams.
NOW #1 in the state in steals per game at 4.6⁉️
JJ Williams‼️
Back to back nights he’s gotten 5/ 7 steals! Those have yet to be added to his avg. So it will be going UP?
PS: Stl/TO ratio is 2.17 and is also top 20 in assists (Ast/TO) ratio of 2.42!
He just keeps on GOING‼️ pic.twitter.com/ctCQCc2CLs
— Lowndes High School Vikings Basketball (@VikingsMBB) January 30, 2022
“He does a lot of great things on the offensive side of things, but he is a defensive stopper…plain and simple,” says Benjamin. “He’s very pesky, and is leading our region with an average of six steals per game (SPG).”
In fact, Williams is actually leading the entire state’s class 7A with 4.6 SPG, and third overall. Coach Benjamin says Williams has worked on improving his game over the last three seasons, especially this offseason.
“He started in his sophomore and junior seasons, and we struggled. So, this offseason, he really devoted himself to the weight room, and his teammates rallied around him, and did the same thing,” says the proud coach. “That made him such a better physical player, and made our team better overall, and it’s shining through.”
The Vikings coach says although Williams is only 5-foot-8 inches tall, he plays much bigger. “He has the heart of a giant, and plays like someone that stands 6-foot-5 inches tall,” says Benjamin. “I call him the Ultimate Warrior. He’s never met a challenge that’s too big.”
Then there’s the emotion that Williams gives out, that coach Benjamin says everyone in the gym – fans, players, and coaches – can feel.
The leader in GHSA 7A steals per game and #2 in the State⁉️⁉️
JJ Williams at 4.5!! pic.twitter.com/klR8w9ytla
— Lowndes High School Vikings Basketball (@VikingsMBB) January 18, 2022
“The energy he provides is incredible, and it’s things like that you’ll never see, and that won’t make it into the box score, but you can certainly feel the impact it has on the game,” said coach Thornton.
A look at the senior point guard’s performance in January gives a glimpse into why Williams was nominated for the Athlete of the Month. He scored 18 points, had three assists, and came away with seven steals against Brooks County in the Vikings 72-44 victory early in the month. In a 21-point win over region rival Tift County, Williams had eight steals. Then, days later, in a win over Camden County, Williams scored 15 points, added six assists, and came away with four rebounds. He would add five steals to go along with 17 points in another region win, a seven point victory over Colquitt County.
“He’s a fighter,” said Benjamin. Keep up the fight, Jarcqves Williams.
