By Robert Wilson
Jackson Academy junior guard Mike Williams moved to Mississippi from Texas this year with a national ranking – No. 22 shooting guard in the country in the Class of 2025 by 247 Composite – and a great pedigree – son of former NBA Champion and All-Star Mo Williams.
The 6-foot Williams is living up to all the hype, especially last week against the best team the Raiders have faced this season.
Williams scored 27 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to lead JA to a 58-55 victory over Heritage Academy Saturday at Heritage in Columbus in a battle between two of the top teams in Mississippi.
He also had 25 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes in a 69-33 victory over Central Hinds Academy last week.
For his outstanding performance, Williams has been named the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.
Williams had been living with his mom and playing for Texas Class 5A public school Hillcrest in Dallas, but moved to be with his father, who is in his first year as Jackson State’s men’s basketball coach.
Williams found a home at JA, and it has worked well.
He is averaging 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 3.1 assists and has led JA to a 13-0 record – the best start in school history – and a No. 10 ranking in Mississippi, according to MaxPreps. He has made 30 3-pointers (second most in Mississippi), is shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range (third best in Mississippi) and ranks No. 17 in the country in points per 32 minutes going into this week. Williams leads MAIS Class 6A in nine different categories.
Williams is a big reason by the Raiders have won every game by 25 points or more except for the Heritage game. In fact, JA had never trailed in a game this season until Saturday’s matchup with Heritage.
Heritage jumped out to a 15-10 before Williams and JA got rolling in the second quarter, going on a 14-0 run to take a 29-19 lead and led 29-21 at halftime. Williams made two free throw and two 3-pointers in a 2-minute span to start the big run. Then, Williams was the difference in the end, with four points in the final minute, a reverse layup and two free throws, to erase a 55-54 Heritage lead.
Williams, who had a game-high seven offensive rebounds, helped carry the load for JA, which was missing starting junior guard Schyler Chambers for the fourth straight game. Chambers injured his mouth against Bonnabel, La., had to have dental surgery.
Williams fell three points short of his career high of 30 points in 22 minutes in a 93-44 victory over Simpson Nov. 30 at JA.
He is the top-rated player in Mississippi in the Class of 2025 by 247 Composite.
“Mike has shown an exceptional ability to blend in at with JA basketball culture and helps raise the level of everyone around him,” second-year JA coach Jesse Taylor said. “Mike is a high character kid and has fit right in with our team and the school.
“And then there is his basketball skill. Mike is a bonified scorer. He has another gear and is very athletic. Mike is a great teammate. He has some of the same mannerisms as his dad with his patience and pace. Mike is very unselfish. His work ethic really stands out. Our team has been amazing at welcoming Mike and his brother Mason (a sophomore point guard) to the Raiders and we are excited about the start of our season.”
Williams just played two games last season before injuring his wrist and missed the rest of the season at Hillcrest. He averaged 14.2 points two years ago as a freshman on the varsity.
Some are drawing comparisons to Williams’ ability to score to Mississippi State freshman guard Josh Hubbard, who became Mississippi’s all-time leading scorer last season after a brilliant career at Madison-Ridgeland Academy and was last year’s Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year. Hubbard was rated No. 1 in Mississippi, No. 69 overall player and No. 17 point guard in the country on ESPN’s 2023 Top 100 list last season.
Said Taylor: “Mike is his own player, and he has own strengths. Let’s just say he is a great scorer and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do for the rest of the season.”
Mo Williams is considered one of best basketball players in Mississippi history. He averaged 13.2 points and 4.3 assists during his 13-year NBA career, was an NBA All-Star in 2009, won an NBA title with the Cleveland Cavs in 2016 and announced his retirement. He scored 2,433 points at Murrah and was named the Mississippi Player of the Year as a senior in 2001. Williams averaged 25.7 points, 8.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 steals and shot 59 percent from the field, 51 percent from the 3-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line. He was the Sporting News National Freshman of the Year at Alabama and left the Crimson Tide after two seasons to enter the NBA draft. The 6-2 point guard was a second-round pick by the Utah Jazz and played for seven NBA teams.
After his retirement, Williams was an assistant for two seasons at Cal State Northridge under Mark Gottfriend, who coached Williams at Alabama. Williams was head coach at Alabama State for two seasons and replaced Wayne Brent as Jackson State’s head coach last season.
Mike Williams is the son of Mo and Kesha Williams. Kesha is a graduate of Richland High and lives in the Dallas area. Mike has six brothers. Kydarrius played basketball at Madison St. Joseph and was a basketball manager at Alabama and now is an assistant coach at Jackson State. Maurice Jr. is a senior at JA. Mason is a sophomore and is Mike’s teammate on the basketball team. Max is in the fifth grade at JA. Asa is three years old, and Ezra is two years old.
JA’s next game is against MHSAA Class 7A Starkville High Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the Shan Whiteside Sideline Cancer Classic at Desoto Central High at Southaven.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a boys basketball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
