At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over a hundred players from North Carolina 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 under-recruited, and today's edition will highlight Ellis Williams of Henderson Collegiate.
We've seen Williams numerous times throughout the years, including at our All-American Camp, where we stated, 'Continuing onto a player that possesses a nice crossroads between productivity and long-term upside, Ellis Williams. He's a wiry, long-bodied wing/forward prospect with a crafty handle and strong downhill sense. Williams is a great finisher and utilizes his length well to secure rebounds and rise above opponents. He's a solid defender, capable perimeter shooter, and plays with a terrific motor on both ends of the floor. Next in his development process is working on tightening his shot mechanics, as it would make him a more reliable shooting threat. Coach Harmon on Williams: 'Ellis attacks the basket and is a great penetrator. His mechanics and shot selection can use improvement. He can improve on moving without the ball offensively. Ellis handles the ball well with both hands. He's capable of finishing in traffic and rebounds well for his position. Ellis can look to find his teammates more often.' Williams enjoyed a productive showing at camp and should be a useful contributor for Henderson Collegiate during the upcoming season.'
Since then, Williams has made visible strides in his game and should be considered a target for various next-level programs. For the context of his growth, we can simply look at his massive uptick in production between his junior and senior seasons. During the 2021-22 season, Williams was highly involved as the main non-senior on a veteran roster'averaging 11.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.7 SPG with 44/33/65 splits. Despite having solid numbers across the board, no one could've predicted such a massive breakout campaign as a senior. This season, Williams upped his averages to 25.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 2.5 SPG with 60/45/64 shooting splits while being the Pride's clear, undisputed leader on a nightly basis. The fact that he more than doubled his scoring is impressive, but the uptick in efficiency (given the volume) makes his growth truly incredible. Williams now stands out as a polished three-level scorer who can create his own shot, set up others, and impact the game with or without the ball in his hands. He's equally reliable in transition and the half-court, and understands how to mix up his approach at a healthy rate. Furthermore, Williams is a terrific teammate with an unselfish, team-oriented mentality. He's smart, humble, and willing to do whatever it takes to win games. Even though he didn't want a ceremony for his 1000th point, he deserves to be celebrated'especially upon realizing that he totaled over 600 of those points this season. It's unclear where Williams will end up in college, but he should definitely appeal to various programs.