Friday, July 3, 2020

WELCOMING WILLIAMS TrANSFER BRYCE WILLIAMS COMES INTO OSU LOOKING TO PROVE HImSELF FOR THE COWBOYS BASKETBALL TEAM

“If you haven’t seen a kid that’s willing to do whatever to take your program to the next level, you’re about to see one. He’s going to outwork any kid OSU has. He’s going to overcome all adversities. If you’re looking for a people’s person, he is going to be that.

He is a complete package.”

-Anthony Bryant, South Sumter High School Head Basketball Coach

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

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S p o rt s

O S U Bas k e t ba l l

‘It’s hard to replace that type of kid’: Williams’ high school coach talks about Ole Miss transfer Su dee p Tum m a , Sports Editor, @as k tu m ma

It was Bryce Williams’ junior year. He and the South Sumter High School basketball team were up in Georgia for a tournament. Williams’ game was top of the line.

So naturally, he was excited.

“We show up and first game, and they shut him down,” South Sumter coach Anthony Bryant told the O’Colly. “They knew who he was. I think he had 10 points and we lost by 40. He took that to heart. Then we end up making it to the championship game and playing that same team again. We won in double overtime, and Bryce went for 45.”

Williams laid his imprints all over South Sumter — in Bushnell, Florida — before heading to Daytona State College for two years then Ole Miss for another.

Now he’s decided to make a final move transferring to OSU as a part of coach Mike Boynton’s top-5 recruiting class.

Still, all these years later, Bryant can’t forget that one story with Williams.

Why? It perfectly encapsulated who Williams is.

“Bryce is one of those kids you don’t really have to say anything,” Bryant said with a FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

chuckle. “There was nothing I could have told him that he didn’t know.

We had that relationship.

After the game, I just put my arm around him and go, ‘You know.’ He goes, ‘Yeah coach, my defense was poor.’ He was one of those kids that already knew.”

It wasn’t about the 10 points. Williams knew his team needed his points to win that game, and he felt like he let everyone down. He put the loss on himself.

Bryant said Williams wasn’t just a guy who could score, he was a guy who would break down an entire defense and still be willing to pass the ball to an open man — an unselfish kid who didn’t care about his point total.

And that was with Williams averaging 28 points per game at South Sumter.

With that sort of production, it’s crazy to consider that Williams didn’t receive a single Division I offer out of high school. But that had more to do with his grades than his skill level.

Bryant said Williams had a ton of DI interest out of high school, but Williams had to settle with two years at a JUCO before transferring to Ole Miss.

Despite his talent, Williams didn’t play much

Bryce Williams will add explosiveness to the Cowboys

at Ole Miss before he decided to dart to OSU. “From what I’m hearing from him, Oklahoma State just feels more like home,” Bryant said. “I guess (OSU) welcomed him with open arms. He never really got into what happened at Ole Miss, we never got that far.

But he’s been excited to show up with (OSU) and play. I think the decision came down to: Bryce has always wanted to feel wanted. That’s all he ever wanted.

“Basketball comes second nature to him. But feeling wanted is something he’s always prided himself in and feeling needed, I think that played a major role in his decision to join OSU.” With Boynton and

Ole miss athletics

a coaching staff that includes Erik Pastrana, Williams’ coach at Daytona State, there’s a sense of familiarity.

It’s been a few years since Pastrana coached Williams, but even longer since Bryant has.

Since then, Bryant has seen Williams grow — physically and mentally.

“Just watching him become a young man has been an incredible journey,” Bryant said.

“He goes from that little 6-foot freshman to a 6-3 phenomenal senior guard. And you’re like, ‘Wow.’ I saw him a couple of weeks ago, and he’s grown a lot since as far as the mental capacity: how he thinks about the guys, the opportunities he’s had and his

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future endeavours.”

That little 6-foot guard didn’t even play organized basketball until he started at South Sumter.

In fact, Bryant actually had to force Williams to play at the varsity level.

While Williams was still extremely raw as a freshman, Bryant saw the potential that no one else did — not even his wife.

“When he was a freshman, I told my wife: ‘This kid’s going to the best player I’ve ever coached,’” Bryant said. “She never saw it.

She’s like, ‘that one?’ I said, ‘He’s going to be special.’ Because he was just an OK talent, but I saw the intangibles of stuff you couldn’t teach for a kid that’s never played organized ball.

“From Day One, I knew Bryce Williams was Division I talent.”

Now Williams has transformed himself into that DI talent Bryant predicted so many years ago.

Like Bryant said, it all started the intangibles. And one of the biggest intangibles was Williams’ coachability, which helps the two have a strong bond — on and off the court.

“I could tell Bryce to go left when everybody knows he should go right, and he never batted an eye,” Bryant said.

“From his freshman year, he did whatever I asked

him to do, and he trusted the process. He’s one of those kids that when he finds that relationship with you, he’ll do whatever you ask him to do, whether he feels it’s right or he feels it’s wrong.

He’s a very coachable kid.”

That relationship spilled over to life too.

Williams consistently came to Bryant for advice. That was the nature of their relationship.

Even to this day, the two have that same bond.

They talk as often as possible, and Williams still knows who South Sumter plays on any given night.

That relationship is only amplified by the person Williams is off the court. Bryant describes Williams as a happy-go-lucky guy who’s the life of the party, always bringing excitement and energy.

He said Williams is a family-orientated guy who’s always trying to do things with his teammates outside of basketball.

Now Williams will take those qualities and join Boynton’s program.

“He’s just a pleasure to be around,” Bryant said.

“I’ve never seen bad days out of him. He doesn’t get in trouble, never had an issue with him. It’s hard to replace that type of kid.”

C ov e r S t o ry

O S U Bas k e t ba l l

Column: Rondel Walker is an undervalued stud S u dee p Tum m a , Sports Editor, @ask tu m ma

Even with a top-5 recruiting class, all anyone wants to talk about is Cade Cunningham.

I mean, there’s good reason for that. The future potential No. 1 overall pick is a gaudy talent and a high school superstar.

But Rondel Walker should not be overlooked.

The 4-star shooting guard from Putnam City West High School in Oklahoma City is OSU’s second-highest rated recruit. He’s listed as the 52nd best player on ESPN’s recruiting rankings.

So what makes Walker special? I’m glad you asked.

It starts on defense.

The athletic Walker possesses excellent lateral quickness, which helps him stick with his man. He can pressure you without getting beat off the dribble But it goes beyond that. Walker has incredible instincts and a great feel for the game. He has a nose for the ball. He anticipates when the defense leaves the ball vulnerable and attacks to create steals. As a matter of fact, Walker FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

Joshua Cleary/OColly

Rondel Walker joins a very talented recruiting class next season.

is P.C. West’s all-time steals leader.

That not only hands your team extra possessions, but it also gets in a defense’s head. After a few takeaways, you might start to second guess yourself, which forces mistakes.

Walker’s instincts and length help him excel on defense, but also on offense.

Walker is the steals leader and also holds P.C. West’s record for points.

The 6-foot-3 guard is a smooth, swift athlete with some quick twitch to his game.

While he needs to put some weight on his 160-pound frame, he’s already a menace.

With the ball in his hands, he can shake defenders off the bounce. When he’s driving to the rim he splits defenders so well with a precise combination of patience, handles and explosiveness. He has a full array of moves — euro steps, spin moves and hop sets are all in his arsenal.

The driving ability is impressive, but his 3-point shooting is deadly. Walker hits from a high clip beyond the arc.

During his AAU run with the Texas Titans last season, Walker shot 42.6% on his 3-pointers. He’s a knockdown shooter who can hit contested

shots. If you give him an inch of space, he’ll let it fly.

The thing I personally love about his jump shot is the mechanics.

When Walker catches a pass, he doesn’t dip the ball too low — something most people do — which allows him to get his shot off that much faster.

Walker is a threat from the 3-point line, and also in the midrange. Walker has the ability to feel out the defense, stop on a dime and pull up off the dribble.

It’s a trait that helps him be so effective in the pick-and-roll game.

Walker plays with such poise and pa-

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tience — he understands when to push the pace and attack in these pick-and-roll situations, but also when to pull back. When he does attack, he can get to the rim, pull up off the dribble or make a savvy pass.

It’s interesting because when you talk about playing with the right pace, operating out of the pick-and-roll and playmaking ability, we often think of point guards.

Maybe that’s because Walker essentially is a point guard.

Walker has the versatility to play the 1 if you need him to. There are plays where he’s calling the play when

he doesn’t even have the ball.

Controlling the tempo isn’t just something you do, it’s an instinct.

Walker has that. And he has the skill set associated with being a point guard.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Walker’s offball prowess. He can make sneaky backdoor cuts when the defense overcommits, he understands how to float on the perimeter to get open and his ability to move off screens is beautiful.

Walker doesn’t just cut hard, he really makes a concerted effort to fool you.

Walker will be running one way, stick his hands out, have his eyes looking that way, then stop on a dime and turn a different direction. Which is so impressive.

And that just makes him so much scarier as a player. That versatility will pay major dividends for the Cowboys.

Like most of these freshmen not named Cade Cunningham, it remains to be seen how many minutes Walker plays as a freshman.

But as a short and long-term option, you can be sure he’s going to be an exciting player to watch.

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

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Horoscope

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Todays Birthday (07/03/20). Together, you’re stronger this year. Collaborate with a dedicated partnership for satisfying wins. Adapt to social change. Make educational plans. Take charge this summer, before supporting your partner through a change. Meditating and planning next winter inspires a revitalization of your work and health. Collaboration flowers.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Find another route around a roadblock to realize your professional aim. Discipline is required and the payoff is worth it. Angels guide your actions.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Revise your study and travel plans, again. Dreams could seem distant. Consistent small steps add up, though. Find clever ways to advance. Try something new.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Maintain your collaborative efforts to guard and grow shared resources. Maintain steady momentum to get farther than expected. Stay alert and in action.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Strengthen your collaboration and partnership. Small changes can reap big rewards. Negotiate to refine the plan. Listening is more powerful than speaking. Represent.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Discipline with health and work pays off in long-term benefits. Adapt by shifting strategies for growth. Strengthen your infrastructure. Recharge and energize your work.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Whatever doesn’t work with your romantic relationship becomes apparent. Loved ones provide emotional support.

Share it. Put in corrections. Disciplined efforts advance for long-term gain.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Renovate or relocate? You may consider big domestic changes, repairs and improvements. Patiently maintain a disciplined effort. Update your long-term plan and keep going for it.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Creativity flourishes, despite uncertainty and illusions. Doubts interfere with progress. Keep building your portfolio, crafting your work and refining. Polish your marketing materials.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Prioritize practical objectives and postpone what you can. Tap new revenue sources. Sidestep obstacles. Follow the most reliable path. Take advantage of a profitable opportunity.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Persistent action fulfills personal goals. Long-term objectives get realized through small, steady steps. Fortune follows heartfelt action. Get moving for what you love.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Consider and imagine. Revise plans.

Envision what you want and plot your new course. Avoid fantasies, rumors and illusions, and stick to solid ground.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Find new ways to collaborate with teammates. Avoid travel or traffic. Adjust your focus, and keep advancing through coordinated efforts. Communication is key.

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

FOR RELEASE JULY 3, 2020

Level 1

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7/3/20

Solution to Thursday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

ACROSS 1 Abate 4 Brit. detective’s rank 8 Gastropod associated with traditional mail 13 It may result in an RBI 14 Staircase post 16 Lead-in for jet or Tax 17 Horse sense?

20 Tiny fraction of a min.

21 Gas pump choice 22 Witness 23 Cattle call?

26 Act part 28 Piper’s son of rhyme 29 Afflicted 30 Force oneself (on) 35 Gds. 39 Cat’s paw?

42 Lob 43 Least strict 44 Bread grain 45 Actress Thurman 47 “¿Cómo está __?”

49 Fox hole?

56 Lincoln, familiarly 57 Inventor Tesla 58 Austen’s aspiring matchmaker 61 Hog wash?

64 Online financial services pioneer 65 “Nature’s soft nurse,” to Shakespeare 66 “You’re __ me” 67 Wasp’s assault 68 Collections 69 MASH staff DOWN 1 Paradise 2 Backyard parties, briefly 3 Flowers named for their color 4 Place to stay 5 “Then live, Macduff; what __ fear of thee?”: Macbeth 6 Suffix with boat or cox 7 Small bird with a small-sounding name

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By David Alfred Bywaters

8 Sailor’s guardian 9 Cloistered female 10 Riposte to “Am not!”

11 “A Doll’s House” dramatist 12 Doesn’t prevail 15 Highlands miss 18 Wikipedia’s globe, say 19 News service since 1851 24 Blood carrier 25 Campbell jingle letters 26 Go (through) carefully 27 Egyptian queen, familiarly 31 Skin pigment 32 Spherical legume 33 Tic-tac-toe loser 34 Jeanne d’Arc, e.g.: Abbr.

36 Lascivious mental state 37 Ophthalmologist’s concern 38 Looked at carefully 40 Has arisen 41 Needle case

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

46 One of the 3M Company’s M’s, originally 48 Editorial reconsideration word 49 Absorbs nicotine smokelessly 50 Letter-shaped fastener 51 “Vive __!”

52 Manages to attain, with “out”

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53 Briquettes 54 Edward who wrote “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

55 Parking lot employee 59 Secure in a harbor 60 Hill-building insects 62 Soup holder 63 Increases