Age

23

Height

6'6''

Weight

195

Workload

MIN%

62

USG%

26

TS%

52

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

17.8

REB

11.4

AST

2.8

STL

1.5

BLK

0.4

TOV

2.7

Efficiency

RIM FG%

54

MID FG%

32

3PT FG%

36

FT%

74

Jump to full report

Report by: Matt

Eric Williams Jr.

Forward San Diego

Chaotic athletic shotmaker who can hang inside

Age

23

Height

6'6''

Weight

195

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

17.8

REB

11.4

AST

2.8

STL

1.5

BLK

0.4

Positions Defended

Offensive Role

 

Defensive Role

   

Meet Eric Williams Jr. First, in his own words:

It is important to remember that a basketball player’s trajectory is not always their own. I say this in the case of Eric’s game as his usage and role was more easily explained by his team’s immediate needs than his own path to become an NBA player. That path is dim, as Williams was a super senior at San Diego with little by way of draft buzz, but I’m here to argue he deserves it.

First, let’s look at Williams’ time at Duquesne.

There have only been six players to put up 30%+ shooting on 8+ threes per 100 possessions as a freshman while also dunking 10+ times and rebounding 20%+ of chances while on the floor. Jabari Smith (#3 pick), Miles Bridges (#12), Greg Brown III (#43), Justin Lewis (UDFA), Cam Whitmore (likely top ten pick)…and Eric Williams Jr.

All of those players went on to the NBA while Eric returned for a sophomore year at Duquesne.

There have only been ten players to put up 55% shooting at the rim on over 100 attempts while dunking over 20 times, shooting over 5 threes per 100 possessions and rebounding 10%+ of offensive chances while on the floor as a freshman or sophomore. Chuma Okeke (#16), Lauri Markannen (#7), Jalen Smith (#10), Jabari Parker (#2), TJ Warren (#14), Christian Wood (UDFA), Jamine Peterson, Tari Eason (#17) and Naz Reid (UDFA).

All but one of those payers went on to the NBA while Eric transferred to Oregon.

At this point we have well established that Eric has a rare combination of shotmaking and athleticism. At Duquesne he was able to showcase this best, given the ball in opportunistic spots where he could embrace his full play-finishing self from the perimeter or slashing.

At Oregon and San Diego, however, his athleticism was seen as an opportunity to fill big man gaps, playing up a position as the power forward in both positions. He even jumped center for San Diego after their big man went down with injury, not just one position off but two from his natural spot for most of the season.

His game is far from perfect, often careless with the ball or getting confused on defense. But it is difficult to know how damaging those traits are when his strengths aren’t being properly maximized.

Offense

Eric Williams Jr. is a play finisher in the extreme. He has dynamic strides with great flexibility making up for improvisational handle. He is best, simply put, catching and shooting, and has the small-space wiggle to get himself open to take a ton of attempts if needed. Six threes per game as a freshman at a 36% clip is nothing to scoff at. His free throw percentage has hovered around the low 70s, not an elite shooter but with the balance needed to convert off of movement and standstill alike.

He is very aggressive and dynamic attacking the rim as well. When so many great shooters are reluctant to hoist attempts when covered or burn through traffic to the rim, Eric indulges in it. At 6’6.25” in shoes, Williams uses his full 6’9” wingspan and strong build to bully through larger opponents, what enabled him to play up so consistently despite not being his optimal role.

I would love to see Williams get back to the simple in a G-League system better catered to his strengths. The biggest limiting factor is his overall execution when an offense stagnates, panicking into turnovers. But if he gets the ball knowing what he’s supposed to do with it, and, ideally that being attacking closeouts (his noted favorite scoring method in the interview) as well as staying active on cuts and transition. An eager shooter with shooting skill and athleticism is always valuable. Eric pairs these traits with a herky-jerky playing style that keeps an opponent off-guard even in perfect position. This has also compensated for his worse than average passing by opening up large passing windows where he can deliver. Put him around true connectors and a real rim protector and let him cook.

Defense

Eric presents similarly on defense as offense: unpredictable but always active, and taking pride in not being beaten. The details are murky here too, too often falling for fakes or over-committing to cause turnovers, but this activity often results in those good plays, too. I am most optimistic in Williams as a screen runner, utilizing that ankle flexibility and strength to power through at low angles and trail with great acceleration. If it wasn’t clear enough by now, Williams is a fantastic, dynamic athlete, and those have the tools to stay on the court.

When asked about his favorite games in college, Williams identified versus Saint Louis, a game where he put up 40 as a sophomore at Duquesne, and as a super senior versus Utah State, where he put up 43 points. But those were also two games where he got to pick up full court for periods, and was locked in the entire time despite the offensive usage, even tallying a total of four stocks in the two games.

The rebounding has always been great, the most consistent part of his game with over 1,000 board in his college career, 718 on defense and 315 on offense. He is also above water as far as comparing steals and blocks to fouls, once again showing how his aggressiveness paid off even if he missed a rotation here and there.

Summary

Eric Williams Jr. has some items to clean up to make it in the NBA or even a consistent role in the G-League, not ideal for one of the oldest in the draft. But age does not equate to lack of upside, as his role has ventured far from ideal but also led to him solidifying some skills that support his best traits.

A patient but smart G-League team would revisit Williams’ Duquesne tape and see how best to use Williams in a downhill attack role while also providing spacing, rebounding, intensity. While his draft buzz is low, his best basketball years are still ahead of him.

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