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For Keith Williams the next chapter starts now

March 19, 2021 Andy Furman

Keith Williams. Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati

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It wasn’t supposed to end this way.

Not for Keith Williams, the man with the Kevin McHale shoulders.

Not for the University of Cincinnati.

And for Williams – the grad of Bishop Loughlin High – the next chapter starts now.

But how can you ever forget the career he’s had?

First – Loughlin.

Williams was named the 2017 All-New York City Player of the Year and Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Class AA Most Valuable Player, helping the Lions to the Brooklyn-Queens championship game and intersectional semifinals.

He averaged 24.2 points and 12.6 rebounds as a senior and 15 points and 4.3 rebounds as a junior.

You want some highlights – how’s this?

He poured in 37 points in a CHSAA diocesan semifinal double overtime win against Christ the King, and 25 on 12-for-17 shooting in the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic Regional Boys Game at the Barclays Center.

Williams was the leading score on Cincinnati’s team, which failed to make the NCAA Tournament after a nine-year run.

His Bearcats finished 9-4 down the stretch and were bounced in the American Athletic Conference championship game to the University of Houston.

But don’t blame Williams.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder led the team in scoring – 15 points-per-game, along with 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals.

“Sure, it was disappointing not to advance,” he told the Eagle, “but three championships, three rings – all at this level is rare, and I’m proud of that.”

Williams was named second-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) by the league’s coaches – and his 15 points-per-game average was sixth-best in the conference.

What a difference a year makes.

Last March, Williams tested the NBA Draft.

“I just thought I had some unfinished business,” he said, “so I returned to school.”

And now, the Criminal Justice major who graduates in April has his sights set on the NBA – and his next chapter.

“I’ll say this,” he said, “whatever it takes to make it happen, I’m ready.”

His credentials look promising.

He earned a first-team All-AAC preseason selection in October, has led the Bearcats in scoring in 11 of the team’s 20 games and has scored 10 or—more points in 15 games.

Williams became the 54th member of Cincinnati’s 1,000-point club, February 7th at Tulane with a game-high 20 points against the Green Wave.

He entered the post-season with 1,125 career points, ranking 37th in school history.

But the road from Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bishop Loughlin was a long one.

“I had offers from Oklahoma State and Dayton,” he said, “but I was attracted to Cincinnati with their family and brotherhood attitude.”

Lucky for the Bearcats.

That chapter is now closed for the 22-year-old Williams.

But he’d really like to write a book on his next achievement – the NBA.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected].