Former Providence Day star Grant Williams named SEC Player of the Year

When Grant Williams was a star high school basketball player at Providence Day, he was not ranked among the top 100 in recruiting and didn’t have the type of college recruitment reserved for the nation’s elite boys’ players.

Williams chose Tennessee over Yale, and has developed into one of the nation’s best college basketball players.

Williams, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound sophomore, was named SEC Player of the Year Tuesday after averaging 15.6 points and 5.8 rebounds this season. He scored at least 20 points in eight games, including a career-high 37 points at Vanderbilt Jan. 9. Williams faced constant double teams all season.

Williams was also named first team All-SEC and coach Rick Barnes was named SEC Coach of the Year after the Volunteers won their first regular season conference title since 2008.

At Providence Day, Williams led the Chargers to the 2016 N.C. Independent Schools 3A state championship, a top 20 national ranking and a berth in the DICKS’ national championship tournament in New York.

He became the fourth player to win the All-Observer boys’ player of the year twice. He joined a list that includes former Charlotte Latin standout Anthony Morrow (2003-04, 2004-05), United Faith star Ian Miller (2008-09, 2009-10) and West Charlotte's Jason Parker (1997-98 and 1998-99).

As a senior in high school, Williams averaged 15.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 blocks.

This story was originally published March 6, 2018 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Former Providence Day star Grant Williams named SEC Player of the Year."