Syracuse Signee Benny Williams Enjoying Strong Start to Senior Season

The SI99 prospect is showing his versatile skill set.

Mike McAllister | Dec 18, 2020

Syracuse Signee Benny Williams Enjoying Strong Start to Senior Season /

Syracuse basketball signee Benny Williams is seven games into his senior season, which is his first with IMG Academy after previously playing for St. Andrew's. Through those seven games, Williams is showing why he is an elite prospect and why the Orange staff made him such a big priority in the 2021 class.

Williams says his per game averages are as follows: 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.6 steals. Simply put, Williams is doing everything. He is a skilled scorer who can do so from all three levels. Williams is also showing defensive prowess with his blocks and steals per game.

"I just feel like I'm the typical Syracuse big guard," Williams said after signing with the Orange last month. "When you look at all the players they've had, CJ Fair, Melo. I'm pretty sure if I keep working I can develop into one of those players. And I loved the atmosphere when I went to the game versus North Carolina. Everybody's just cool there. All the coaches and the players. I just felt at home there."

Williams was also ranked in the 2021 SI99. He was evaluated by SI All-American as follows:

Frame: Lean frame with room to add and develop muscle at the next level.

Athleticism: Williams is an elite athlete who plays above the rim and impacts the game on both ends of the court with his length and skill set. Williams often fills the lane on the break and finishes with authority at the rim.

Instincts: Williams has a high basketball IQ and recognizes and exploits situational advantages well, whether it’s with his own matchup or a teammate's. Williams is at his best when he’s going to the basket, but he’s a talented passer and rebounder as well. His motor typically remains in the “on” position.

Polish: Williams’ length enables him to be effective on both ends of the floor and cover areas effectively, specifically on defense. Williams is capable in the paint, outworking slower bigs as he maneuvers his way to the rim.

Bottom Line: Williams has great size and length to go along with a strong skill set and a constant motor, traits that will make him an instant-impact player for Syracuse. As he continues to gain strength his upside could be scary.

Published Dec 18, 2020

MIKE MCALLISTER

Title: Publisher All Syracuse Education: Roberts Wesleyan College Location: Syracuse, New York Expertise: Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting. EXPERIENCE Mike McAllister has been covering Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting for more than a decade. Mike's career started with his own free blog as a way to vent following sporting events. Shortly thereafter, a network of basketball sites called Coast 2 Coast Hoops asked him to run their Syracuse site. That site was called Nation of Orange, and Mike quickly established it as a go-to for Syracuse fans. After running Nation of Orange for several months, a position with the Syracuse site on the Scout network became available. After one year as the recruiting expert with Cuse Nation, he was named the publisher. Mike oversaw the transition from Scout to 247Sports, and ran the site on that network for years. Presented with the opportunity to join one of the biggest names in the sports journalism industry, Sports Illustrated, Mike jumped at the chance. All Syracuse was started from scratch by Mike and the Fan Nation team. It has now become a staple for Orange fans of various sports. Mike has broken news on recruiting, Syracuse basketball and football team information and has established himself as the top recruiting inside in the market. He has appeared on local radio shows, television broadcasts, national radio shows and much more. Mr. McAllister has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Management from Roberts Wesleyan College.