The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 8-0 and have several players that serve as national lifelines for recognition—Jeff Teague and Al Farouq-Aminu—while role players James Johnson, Tony Woods, and L.D. Williams go undetected.
L.D. Williams in particular.
Team Captain as a sophomore, Williams has been the sparkplug in the starting line-up and off the bench for the Demon Deacons averaging career-highs in points, field goal percentage, and blocks despite averaging a career-low in minutes per game.
The junior scored 14 of his 16 points in the opening 7:08 against Wisconsin, to help blockade the lead against the Badgers. Seven of those points came from lay-ups and dunks.
While he’s not the flauntiest of jump-shooters, Williams furbishes his game with his abrasive upper-body strength which permits him to draw contact from defenders as illustrated above.
However the other half of his scoring output were off jump shots, including the only three pointer he’s made this year, 1-13.
Against Baylor in the 76 Classic Championship game, Williams showed he was invaluable to Wake with his nose for the ball. In a 2:10 span (9:41-7:31 1st half), Williams attempted two shots and a free throw, drew a foul, scored 4 points, and grabbed four rebounds (three offensive).
He almost replicated the performance in the Demon Deacons’ latest game against Bucknell. At the 7:17 mark in the 1st half, Williams had compiled five points, two rebounds, and three steals to go along with three field goal attempts and two free throw shots.
He’s also had a steal or a block in 6-of-8 games this season. The 6-foot-4 G/F is nothing if not productive.
Dino Gaudio and the No. 17 Demon Deacons are off to the best start in school history because of key role players like L.D. Williams and the Deacs’ wouldn’t thrive without them.
4 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Glaessner 6 months ago
I have noticed the improvements made at WF, where did they find that Johnson kid though? He looks like he's got the talent to be a good NBA player, he's real raw though. What improvements have you seen out of him from last year to this year?
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Sean Stancill 6 months ago
They found James Johnson in Cheyenne, Washington. This year he's a more polished and established jump-shooter whereas last year he would become far too aggressive. Johnson is also now an excellent ball-handler for a player his size (6-9) and reminds me of a stronger, more offensively gifted Kenyon Martin.
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Richard DeLancey 6 months ago
Williams has been playing really well this year.
His defensive play has been cranked up a notch. When he drives inside he is very effective offensively.
Just don't let him take any 3's. I think Dino Gaudio loses a year off his life every time he sees Williams chucking it from beyond the stripe.
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Sean Stancill 6 months ago
Understandably so. His 0.77% 3pt percentage isn't exactly the toast-of-the-town but is hustle and desire to win is. He's definitely the strongest guard that they have which is why they assign him to defend the opposition's best player. Three pointers aren't his strong suit but he's a pest on the offensive glass and he's a credible threat to convert on put-backs and snatch alley-oops; a pure transition-oriented player.
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