University of North Carolina Athletics
Marvin Williams Named ACC Rookie of the Year
March 15, 2005 | Men's Basketball
March 15, 2005
by Aaron Beard, Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL -- The surprise isn't that Marvin Williams ended up being the Atlantic Coast Conference's top rookie, it's that a player of his caliber would even play college ball.
While many of his peers went straight from high school to the NBA, the 6-foot-9 Williams passed up a possible high draft selection to go to North Carolina. And though he put off the chance to play for millions of dollars, Williams ended up in an ideal situation, bringing scoring and athleticism off the bench for a talented Tar Heels squad.
And Williams has no regrets on passing up the cash to remain a kid a little while longer.
"I'm having a blast," Williams said. "It's definitely been fun. We're winning games, everybody's playing well, I'm having a ball. This is what college is about."
Williams, who filled his role as sixth man well enough to be selected The Associated Press rookie of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, is averaging 11.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game heading into the NCAA tournament. He's shooting 51 percent from the floor, 85 percent from the free throw line and has even hit 14 of 32 3-point shots.
Williams' all-around game has stirred speculation he could be the No. 1 pick in this year's draft without ever starting a game for the Tar Heels (27-4). But it's Williams' maturity and refusal to make a premature push for stardom that has made him a coach's dream.
The 18-year-old rarely forces a shot, content to move fluidly through the offense in support of front-line all-ACC performers Sean May and Jawad Williams.
Tell him he makes the transition from high school to college basketball look easy, and he quickly credits coach Roy Williams: "You just do what coach tells you to do and everything will be easy."
Roy Williams says the freshman is a big reason for the Tar Heels' success, providing inside help for a team that had little depth there last season.
"It is an honor that is well-deserved," Williams said of the rookie award. "He's been a tremendous addition to our basketball team."
The coach is hardly the only one to notice. It was Williams' three-point play that put North Carolina ahead in a come-from-behind win against Duke to close the regular season. And his 20-point performance against North Carolina State last month - which included three 3s and a dunk where he posed in the air with his left hand behind his head - came after Williams spent a good portion of the day in bed recovering from the flu.
Teammate Rashad McCants called Williams "a freak," a sentiment echoed by N.C. State coach Herb Sendek.
"I don't think there is anything he can't do," Sendek said.
Williams plans to talk about the NBA with his coach after the Tar Heels' season ends, but he's quick to point out he loves college and expects to return for his sophomore season.
"College was something I wanted to do," he said. "It's an experience that every kid should take. That's one thing I'll have that other high schoolers (who go to the NBA) don't."
Williams paused, then grinned.
"I like being a kid. It's easy for me to be a kid," he said. "It's what I do best. It's probably what I'll always do best."
