St. Frances Academy’s R.J. Williams accepted a basketball scholarship to Loyola University Sunday afternoon. Arguably the area’s premier point guard, Williams, 5-foot-9, selected the Greyhounds over Wagner University.
“I felt it’s a great fit for me,” said Williams. “Me and coach [Jimmy Patsos] get along and Dylon [Cormier] is an old teammate.”
Cormier, an first-team All-Met last season for now-defunct Cardinal Gibbons, and Williams came up together in the Mount Royal program. Cormier has started in all 10 games so far for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference program, averaging 9.7 points.
Williams, who will sign in the spring, joins Cormier, Jamal Barney (Southwestern) and Josh Weigand (John Carroll) as locals on the Loyola roster. St. Frances assistant coach Nick Myles said he’s happy to see the local Division I schools focusing on the area high school scene.
“The local schools are recruiting the better Baltimore players, and Loyola’s been doing a great job,” said Myles. “He wanted to stay close to home.”
“I’m glad Loyola recognized as me a decent player,” said Williams, who recruited by Greyhounds’ assistant Luke D’Alessio.
Williams’ decision came nearly 24 hours after leading St. Frances past No. 1 City College, 78-66. He scored a season-high 26 points and handed out nine assists for unbeaten Panthers (6-0).
“It took us a couple of games to put things together,” said Williams, one of two starters back from last season’s MIAA A Conference championship team. “There is no superstar on this team.”
Though he doesn’t have the physical stature of Mark Karcher, Sean Mosley or Devin Gray, considered the program’s greatest performers, Williams is quietly earning his place. In his fourth season as starting point guard, Williams has won two Baltimore Catholic League titles and two MIAA A crowns.
“I grew up watching Sean and I ended up on the same team with him; he showed me how to do the basic things. Terrell [Vinson] showed me how to play with confidence,” said Williams. “Wayne [Sparrow] and Dante [Holmes] showed me how to play with swagger.
Coach [retired St. Frances head coach William] Wells, coach Mark [Karcher, current St. Frances head coach] and coach Nick [Myles] have been great teachers and shown a lot of faith in me. It’s all about playing hard and having fun.”
