by, Colleen E. McNamara, Asst. Sports Editor
Warren Williams of the Manhattan men’s basketball is fresh off playing world cup qualifiers in El Salvador as a representative of the Jamaica national team. Williams has had a successful career at Manhattan College being one of the top big men since his freshman year in 2018-2019, and is now making his country proud on the international level.
During his four games in El Salvador, Williams posted averages of 12 points, 10 rebounds and two and a half assists per game in helping Jamaica to a 2-2 record. In a 107-87 win over Guyana, Williams posted eight points, 12 rebounds and five assists. His best performance came against Nicaragua in a 92-54 loss when he scored 24 points on 12-0f-19 shooting to go along nine rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Williams came over from Jamaica at the start of his high school career at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey. To be able to suit up for his national team was a moment he’ll never forget, and hopefully the first of many opportunities for him to play for Jamaica.
“I never thought something like this could happen, just putting on the Jamaican jersey, a jersey that represents where I am from, is such an amazing feeling,” Williams said in an interview conducted by Rick Turner, head coach and national coordinator of the Jamaica National Basketball Team.
Warren Williams of the Manhattan men’s basketball is fresh off playing world cup qualifiers in El Salvador as a representative of the Jamaica national team. GOJASPERS / COURTESY
Williams raves about his Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello and associate coach Matt Grady, and is proud of how much he has been able to grow since leaving Jamaica to come to the United States.
“I try to see the flaws in my game and work on them,” Williams said. “Individually I am working on short mid range jumpers.”
With anything in life comes positives and negatives, and basketball is no different for Williams.
Williams had to wait a year just to step foot on the court at Manhattan, after choosing to sit out as a red shirt during the 2017-18 season. He came out strong his freshman season averaging nine points-per-game on 57 percent shooting from
the field, which was highlighted by a career-high 27 points in a season-ending loss to Canisius in the quarterfinals of the 2019 MAAC Tournament.
“Basketball is a game of highs and lows, I learned a lot mentally, learned what to do, Williams said. “I could not be the leader for this team if my teammates did not offer me that opportunity.”
This past season Williams averaged 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and shot 56.8 percent in leading Manhattan to a 7-13 record. Williams and teammate Ant Nelson were each named to the All-MAAC Third Team for their efforts this past season. In returning for the 2021-2022 season, Williams will have two seasons of eligibility left after graduating from Manhattan at the end of this semester. He will be enrolling in graduate school at Manhattan next semester.
Williams’ and Manhattan’s season came to an end on March 9 with a 59-58 overtime loss against Fairfield in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City. Williams finished with 11 points in the loss.