BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - St.Pauls Tuff Knots 6-foot-5 forward Javid “Spanish” Williams became the first University Alaska Nanooks men’s basketball team recruit for the 2010-11 season, signing a national letter of intent Thursday with the program in the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
Williams was brought to Alaska head coach Clemon Johnson’s attention by fellow St.Pauls Tuff Knots Forward Nashorn Maynard, a fellow 6-5 forward and former SKABA MVP .
“Javed is what we consider a raw offensive talent,” Johnson said in a press release on Thursday. “We are encouraged by his ability to rebound the ball, block shots, run the floor and defend the post. He possesses the same competitive nature and eagerness to learn and advance his game that Nash has.”
Williams, who has four years of eligibility, will play either power forward or center for the Nanooks as a freshman.
Williams along with Maynard were the dynamic duo which led to the Tuff Knots first title in the St. Kitts Amateur Basketball Championships in 2007, topping the multi-time champions Rams Hitters in the final.
He was named the Most Valuable Player at the Reach One Teach One Basketball Camp, which is conducted by John Spezia, a National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame coach.
Wlliams plans to pursue a degree in computer engineering at UAF.
