Photo by Jeremiah McWright, NHS Intern
Photo by Jeremiah McWright, NHS Intern
Photo by Jeremiah McWright, NHS Intern
BY TREVOR HORN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
Mekhi Williams is doing all he can to help out himself and his teammates.
The 6-foot freshman guard for the Natomas High School boys basketball team – jersey #2 on the court – is determined and learning on the fly.
Williams wakes up at 5:30 a.m. every morning to work out before school, but life isn’t just about playing the game.
Keeping up with his studies as well as basketball have made the first-year varsity player for the Nighthawks realize that if he wants to become better, it’s about being well-rounded.
“I am still adapting,” said Williams, who has a 3.1 GPA. “I get tired a lot, but I am just trying to get mentally and physically stronger.”
The Nighthawks (2-5) are still figuring a few things out about themselves. Natomas High started the season 0-5 before finally getting into the win column with a 69-54 victory over McClatchy last week and 71-58 win over West Campus on Tuesday.
Williams started his career with the Nighthawks during the summer basketball season. He showed early promise while leading the offense at point guard en route to a championship at the Consumes River College Summer Challenge in early June. Williams scored eight points late in the fourth quarter to lead the Nighthawks to a 63-60 win in the finals over Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory of San Francisco.
But the transfer of one senior out of the Natomas High program and with two more sitting out the early part of the season because of academic ineligibility has forced the squad to find a new rhythm.
“We are just trying to get our chemistry together and we are trying to find a flow where we can all mesh,” Williams said.
Coach Brian Hamilton has high expectations for the freshman guard, saying he needs to ease Williams into the role of floor general.
“Mekhi puts up good numbers,” Hamilton said. “But we can’t put it all in his hands as a freshman.”
Williams realizes the same, and leans on seniors Phillip Morgan and Jalen Manning for advice and tutoring on and off the court.
“They always help me out when I am having problems school-wise and in basketball, too,” Williams said.
Morgan, who played as a freshman on varsity at Johnson High School, sees promise in his young teammate.
“Mekhi is my boy. He’s a freshman, so just to see him compete at a high level as a freshman starter is big to me,” Morgan said. “I remember when I was playing varsity my freshman year, his motor reminds me of myself.”
The Nighthawks play Chico High School 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Davis Tournament.
Photo by Jeremiah McWright, NHS Intern
Photo by Jeremiah McWright, NHS Intern
Photo by Jeremiah McWright, NHS Intern
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