At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, hundreds of players from the Carolinas went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today’s edition will highlight Dylan Williams of Irmo.
We’ve seen Williams a considerable amount over the years, including at our SC Top 80, where we stated, “Starting things off, we look at a player that is widely known and acknowledged for his electric approach and scoring ability, Dylan Williams. He’s a tough, heady lead guard prospect with quickness, penetration instincts, and perimeter shooting from midrange and beyond the arc. Williams makes quality decisions with the ball in his hands and will seize available scoring opportunities whenever possible. He defends well, especially for his size, and is capable of forcing turnovers and pushing transition play with regularity. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move without the ball, as it would allow him to play alongside another primary ball-handler with less resistance. Coach Staley on Williams: “Dylan is a floor general with the ability to score. He can maneuver well through traffic and keep his teammates involved. Dylan displayed a positive attitude and team-first approach throughout the day.” Williams proved to be an asset during his time at camp and should be poised for another productive season as a leader for Irmo.”
During the high school season, Williams has only further proven himself worthy of attention from scholarship-level coaches. He’s an electric combo guard with excellent balance between playmaking and scoring from all levels. Williams is slightly undersized, but it doesn’t seem to matter or affect his ability to apply constant downhill pressure as a penetrator—where he’s a reliable finisher and passer to cutting teammates. He’s very quick and utilizes his sharp first step to get wherever he wants on the floor. Williams also effortlessly access (and converts) midrange pull-ups or three-pointers off the bounce. Add in his pesky defensive presence, and his identity definitely fits the mold of a modern floor general. His per-game averages 16.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.0 APG, and 2.1 SPG with solid shooting splits should appeal to numerous types of coaches, as Williams has showcased a ton of ability as a four-year varsity piece for Irmo.