Player: AJ Williams
Class: 2026
Height: 6'7
School: Bergen Catholic
We are checking out and bringing our readers players that you will want to make sure to jot down and check out this upcoming season. One player that was brought to our attention was 2026 6'7 AJ Williams from New Jersey.
Williams is an intriguing prospect with his size at the wing position. He is versatile, has good athleticism with his game, and can score in a variety of ways with his game. Williams has the ability to make plays off the bounce, get in the paint, and make his impact felt in a variety of ways. We spoke recently to Marckenzie Gaillot, a coach with the NY Rens and his trainer, to learn even more about his game, and this is what he had to say about the rising star in Williams.
'AJ Williams is a versatile wing that impacts the game in so many ways. AJ can get downhill and use his athleticism to score over defenders but also can knock down shots off the catch while still being able to guard multiple positions on the defensive end.'
We got to know a little more about Williams in our Phenom Q&A! Check out what was said!
How do you like to operate on the court and how do you like to attack on the court'
Williams: I like to operate as a two-way wing. My main strengths that I use to attack on offense are pushing the ball in transition, my versatility, and athleticism. When I get rebounds and push the ball, I like getting my teammates involved and advance the ball to the corners for the shot, or finish with a dunk and energize the game and give my team some momentum. My athleticism helps in these situations because I can finish over, around, or through contact. In the half-court set, I have made lots of improvements on my jump shot and ball handling. I score at all 3 levels, mostly from the wing. I also can post up when smaller defenders are on me and use my size to finish over them, or make the defense collapse and find my shooters.
What improvements have you made this summer'
Williams: My summer has been kind of short because I got injured in late spring, so for most of the summer, I couldn't play in the circuit or camps I was invited to but that gave me time to work on my body and mind. Since I have been able to start training again in early August, I have been focused on getting back into game speed, and making sure my shot and ball handle is sharp so I can knock down shots and be another primary ball handler with high efficiency.
What is your excitement for this upcoming season'
Williams: My excitement for this upcoming season is definitely that I have a good group of guys around me that I can trust. We are building a lot of chemistry and I'm definitely excited to face tough competition. I look forward to playing high-level teams and top talent to show that I can compete within my class and against other classes along with showing that I can perform at the highest level no matter who is in front of me.
Who would you say you like to model your game after'
Williams: It's always tricky to say who I model my game after because I can never really see myself playing as an exact replica of one certain NBA player or college guy. I like to be my own player and combine parts from a couple of players' games. So that being said, Paul George and Jason Tatum are my two favorite players. They're taller, more athletic wings that can put the ball on the floor, show their guard skills, and shoot the ball well, scoring in both the half-court set and the fast break. I like how Paul George is also tough defensively, demonstrating his skill as a two-way player, which is something I try to focus on as well. But over the past year, I have learned that I should also study the game of smaller guards and study more point guards too in order to really maximize my learning about guard skills and apply that to my game. So from that, my favorite guard is probably Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
How does having a mother that played at the DI level help your game'
Williams: Having a mother who went to play Division I basketball has definitely helped me because she went through the process to compete at a high level. So I can definitely pick her brain a bit. She comes to all my games and understands what it takes. She definitely has some good insights for me to help my game and push me as an overall person. And in addition to having a Division I basketball mom, my dad also played Division I football, so he has also helped me a lot with my footwork and strength, and athleticism throughout the years. Growing up always having sports around me in some way helped me develop a competitive mindset and understand the habits I need to have outside of my sport too.
