By Ethan Moore, Sports Editor.
Nyashia Williams, a 19-year-old education major at Delta, credits her love of basketball to her roots.
“Growing up, where I come from, basketball is everything,” says Williams. “I live in a city where you either make something of yourself, or let the streets take over.”
Williams is a freshman guard who primarily plays the point for the Lady Pioneers. She’s a graduate of Saginaw High School where she ranked 13 in her class. She was captain of the varsity basketball team and a member of her school’s National Honor Society branch. While playing high school ball she was a part of her conference all-academic team, as well as third team all-conference. She had a few different schools that wanted her, but in the end she couldn’t leave.
“I decided to come to Delta because even though I had other options and opportunities. It’s home,” says Williams. “There’s no place like home.”
As a member of the Lady Pioneers, Williams has had success. She’s scored in double digits many times and even exploded for 31 points against Kellogg Community College earlier this season. She leads the team in assists and assist to turnover ratio. She’s also second on the team in scoring, and three point percentage. Even with such stellar numbers she has a team first attitude.
“I feel that my greatest accomplishment in basketball is just to be able to lead my team to as many victories as possible,” explains Williams. “I don’t have one specific time because I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything without the help from my team and coaches.”
Throughout her basketball career, Williams has always been characterized by her height.
“My height has affected me in various ways,” explains Williams. “I am only 5’1 and so technically most people, coaches and scouts would consider me to be too short.”
Williams has always taken her height in stride, not letting it affect her confidence or her focus.
“I have been told my whole life that I’m too short, I won’t make it anywhere, give up. I took that as motivation,” says Williams. “I choose not to take being short as an insult, but as a compliment.”
As the season winds down, the Lady Pioneers are looking good heading into the postseason, and Nyashia Williams is a big reason why.
“My goals are to be a great leader to my teammates, on and off the court. Also, to maintain good grades to continue to do what I am best at, and that is basketball.”
