Star watch: the next USU generation
When the men are on the road, the Utah State women’s basketball team takes the court at the Spectrum.
They don’t play in front of sold out crowds, there is no student section cheering them on and there isn’t even a band – but there is a team of young women who play their heart out game in and game out.
This team has an all-time USU scoring leader in senior Devyn Christensen, they have another senior Jenna Johnson who is 21st in the nation in steals and they have a freshman named Makenlee Williams who is looking to follow in the footsteps of those seniors.
It’s not everyday when a freshman straight out of high school can make the jump to Division I starter, but that is exactly what Williams has done. USU head coach Jerry Finkbeiner is impressed with how she has adapted to the new gameplan and playing more defense, which she wasn’t asked to do in high school.
“I really enjoy coaching Makenlee Williams. She is a very good athlete and wants to be a great player,” Finkbeiner said. “I think she has the skill set to be a great player in our program and her transition to college ball has been like any freshman especially being thrust into the starting lineup. When you look at it all, she has had quite the freshman season.”
Williams is a homegrown player. She played her high school basketball in Syracuse, Utah, where she earned all-district and all-state honors during her senior season. She helped her team to state titles in 2010 and 2012. Williams signed her letter of intent on on Nov. 9, 2011 after attending a camp at USU.
“When I was in the recruiting process, I wasn’t really focused on Utah State. It was more schools down south,” Williams said. “When I came here for their camp and walked down the tunnel, I knew I was supposed to be here. I committed later that day before I left and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Williams has had a good freshman campaign, averaging seven points per game in 22 starts. Finkbeiner said Williams has the potential to be freshman player of the year and make all the all-freshman team.
“I’ve always thought the most important offseason for any athlete is between their freshman and sophomore year,” Finkbeiner said. “Now they know what needs to be done and now they have to work on it and make great improvement. That second year sets them up for the rest of their career.”
USU has been in a lot of close games this season, but none have been closer than their game against New Mexico on Jan. 17 at home. With the Aggies down one, Williams showed late game heroics by hitting the game winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to push USU over NMSU 65-63.
“That was something I will remember for the rest of my life,” Williams said. “I have never hit a game-winner in high school, let alone ever, so when something like that happens as a freshman, at a D1 level, and in a big game like that, it’s unbelievable.”
Finkbeiner said he wouldn’t be surprised if she came up with another big shot this season. Finkbeiner gave Williams high praise when it comes to her ceiling and what she can accomplish at USU. He expects her to achieve all-league awards and reach 1,000 points in her career.
“I would not be surprised if she broke Devyn’s record some day,” Finkbeiner said.
Although the scoring record is not something Williams is striving for, it is a goal she would like to accomplish.
“That is definitely a goal of mine,” Williams said. “Devyn worked really hard for it and it’s going to be hard for me to do, but anything can happen.”
It was a rough start to the season for the Aggies and Williams as the team began 2-8. Since then they have turned it around and are 16-11 on the season and second in the WAC. With just two games remaining in the regular season before the conference tournament, the team and Williams have turned their attention to the championships.
“I knew we would figure it out and we did,” Williams said. “We are doing pretty good, not where we want to be yet, but we are still working on it. We are getting ready for the WAC and hopefully the Big Dance.”
– jborba@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @JBorba15