photo: thesunblog.com
Basketball, broken down to its simplest compound, is about scoring more buckets than the team you’re playing against. The Semi-Automatic refers to players who leave bodies in their wake with their innate ability to get buckets. And once upon a time, not too long ago, Jay Williams took the college game by the throat with some fierce offensive weaponry.
A native of Plainfied, NJ, Jay was one of the nation’s top recruits coming out of St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. He dropped 20 in the McDonald’s All American game and stepped into the starting lineup right away during the ‘99-’00 season for the Duke Blue Devils. As a freshman, he averaged 15 points, seven assists and four boards.
Over the summer, he raised serious eyebrows when, as a member of Team USA’s select team, he put together a string of dominating performances against the 2000 Olympic Team and their guard contingent of Gary Payton, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Allan Houston, Tim Hardaway and Steve Smith.
Back at Duke – and playing with Shane Battier, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Chris Duhon and Carlos Boozer – Jay exploded as a sophomore and led the Blue Devils to the 2001 National Championship over Richard Jefferson, Luke Walton and Gilbert Arenas’ Arizona crew, 82-72.
Playing fewer minutes than he did as a freshman, he scorched for 22 points and six assists per game, converting 43% of his three’s. He became the first Duke player since Danny Ferry to lead the ACC in scoring.
During March Madness, Jay led all tournament scorers with an average of 26. As a junior in ‘01-’02, he swept every major player of the year award, copping the A.P., Naismith and Wooden trophies while being named the Men’s B-ball Player of the Year.
Also a stud in the classroom, Jay earned his sociology degree in three years. His jersey #22 was retired at the completion of his junior season. With nothing left to prove on the college level, he jetted for the pros and was selected with the #2 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2002 draft, behind Yao Ming.
photo: northstarbasketball.com
He showed hints of his enormous promise as a rookie, starting 54 games, but was somewhat inconsistent. His high point came against his hometown New Jersey Nets when he notched a triple-double. Many figured that he was poised for a breakout second season. But that was interrupted by a motorcycle accident in June of 2003.
photo: nba.com
Crashing into a pole at an intersection, Jay severed a major nerve in his leg, fractured his pelvis and tore three knee ligaments, including the ACL. To regain the use of his leg, he underwent extensive therapy and rehab. Unfortunately, the injury proved too much to overcome and Jay never played in the league again.
It was an unfortunate end to his brilliant trajectory. I would have loved to have seen him and Ben Gordon roaming the perimeter together for those Bulls teams. Today, Jay makes a good living as a television analyst for ESPN’s college hoops coverage.
And yet, although the end of his pro career was unceremonious, we are still left with his college resume. And there is no doubt that, on that level, he was one of the best to ever do it.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:47 am
ali says:
used to love to watch him and juan dixon go at it. btw, coach capel at oklahoma had stud guard willie warren study film of jay williams all summer as he readies himself to pick up the slack from blake griffin’s departure.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
illest says:
the irony of the two best duke guards ever getting into driving accidents that ruined their careers is crazy. the duke hate will never die but jason williams was sickly quick and it seemed like he never missed. that games vs the nets was one of those moments where you knew he was going to be real in the league. that game; however, was in chicago.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
ali says:
correct you are illest. that’s what i get for trying to write like tj ford in the open court – thrilling yet too much potential for mistakes.
the kid was NICE! and forget the hate, the tape doesn’t lie. Jay was relevant, real deal holyfield.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Blk Caesar says:
Its really a shame how that accident cut his career short… He was a problem in college: Speed, strength, and range on the jimmy.. Its crazy how many pros were in that 2001 NCAA championship game.. That brings me to this question: Who was the best Duke guard ever??? Williams, Dawkins, or Hurley (Amaker was good but I would not consider him on of the greatest)??? I do wonder sometimes what Kobe might have done in the ACC if he stepped foot on Duke’s campus…
November 17th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
ali says:
yo illest,
the best two duke guards ever are johnny dawkins and jay will.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
ali says:
i think about that kobe scenario too from time to time too. and i’m glad we’re having this conversation, b/c i was trying to draw a comparison with brandon jennings. the takeover reminds me of a new jack, hip hop version of johnny dawkins, same height, same build, same freaky-deaky-ness, ‘cept jennings has a little bit extra hot sauce and playground flair to his.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Trevor Kapp says:
jay was my favorite player growing up so getting to interview him this summer at pro city was a thrill for me. he told me he went to china for a try out there, but i’m guessing nothing panned out cause he was calling the carolina nc central game on espn the other night.
it wasn’t so much him matching up with dixon though, ali. he had the battles with steve blake that were must-watch every time. the miracle minute, duke down 20 at the half in the final four against maryland and coming back to win it. that was an unbelievable rivalry for a while.
and i love willie warren, but he plays nothing like jay. jay was more of a point, and willie’s a straight-up shooter.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
funkalot says:
I am an avowed Duke hater, but I have to give Jay his props. He was definitely funky in college and was the last MVP of the Boston Shootouts, on a New Jersey squad that included his boy Dahntay Jones.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
funkalot says:
Ali,
Good comparison between Dawkins and Jennings. They are very similar. Johnny had more dummies and jennings more handles.
Speaking of dummies, did you peep the French Flyer- Rod Beaubois catching the ally, nasty. The announcers said that he has caught that play for 4 or 5 consecutive games. This rookie class of guards is one of the best in recent memory. I really cn not think of another rookie class this deep at guard, especially on the point.
Dawkins and Jwill, greatest Duke guards eva!
November 17th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
illest says:
ali….dawkins over hurley? aight thats fine.
jennings is more kenny and tiny then dawkins.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Blk Caesar says:
Funk.. Did you hate Duke pre-Laettner or did it start during his run at Duke??? Everyone I ask says it started with Laettner and Vitale provided the lighter fluid for the hate blaze!!!
November 17th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
ali says:
yeah trev, but dixon and jay had the biggest guns for their respective teams. i liked steve blake at maryland, but when the duke/maryland rivalry was hot, everybody’s first thoughts were jay and juanny, with the other guys in supporting roles.
and don’t sleep on willie warren’s arsenal. he can get buckets in many different ways. this year, he’ll have the full clip on display. i’m not saying they’re similar. i’m saying that capel made him study jay’s stuff b/c he’s got that type of potential.
and funk, this rookie guard class does make you sctarch your head and think about years past. because the impact and excitement the youngster’s are bringing is quite impressive.
the top 5 rookies this year are guards – jennings, lawson, tyreke, steph curry and jonny flynn. blake griffin will be in the mix by season’s end and lost in the sauce of the rookie brilliance is the twinkle toed bull dozer Dejuan Blair. love that big fella’s game.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
illest says:
funk…check those youtubes of jennings. crazy dummies.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
ali says:
illest, i’d throw all three of those in there. jennings is a gumbo mix of kenny ice, tiny and dawkins. i’ve never been a duke hater b/c of that johnny dawkins and tommy ammaker backcourt. laettner got on my nerves, but i was too busy watching grant hill.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
illest says:
im amazed that steve blake is still in the league. hes a decent player (who did nothing in the playoffs) that plays defense and hustles. imagine players at his position that have been mentioned on this site who are probably more skilled that arent in the league….
November 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
illest says:
ali….good combo.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Blk Caesar says:
You have to sprinkle a dash of AI into that Jennings gumbo too.. I see bits of AI in his game also.. No disrespect but I am shocked that Steve Blake is still in the league too.. But we have said this in these discussions many times.. Sometimes guys get put into good situations and make the most of the opportunity and maximize their positive skill sets..
November 17th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
illest says:
blk…i can see the a.i. with the always in attack mode play.
November 17th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Blk Caesar says:
Yo.. mad off topic but I just peeped a little bit of the Pitt vs. Bingo game and I am looking at the sidelines and none other than “shakin bakin’” Mark Macon is the coach for SUNY Binghamton… wow.. I wondered whathapened to him!
November 18th, 2009 at 9:36 am
illest says:
blk…thats a good look for macon.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:24 am
ali says:
yeah, i’d been doing some recent research on macon for a blog post. he was an assistant at temple w/ coach chaney for a few years, then was on the bench at georgis state b4 coming to binghamton two years ago to assist the now deposed kevin broadus.
so we’ve been speaking about these great college guards. anybody catch kalin lucas and durrell summers last night when michigan state and gonzaga went at it? great game, w/ an ncaa tourney feel to it. that backcourt is a joy to watch.
and what about the kid from queens, charles jenkins, scaring uconn to death w/ his 25 points and 8 dimes for hofstra?
and memphis can’t throw a pebble in the ocean from long range, but they’ve got some greyhounds and athletes that can give anybody fits with their swarming D. and pastner has already inked the #1 recruiting class next year.
they’ve got b-more’s will barton, georgia’s jelan kendrick, homegrown joe jackson from white station hs who’s got some iverson type explosiveness for a lil man and another local kid tarik black. the first three of those guys are considered to be in the top 12 from the 2010 class. my goodness! they might not miss calipari that much after all.
and while vasquez gets all the ink at maryland, watch out for the soph from b-more, sean mosley this year. he can do everything and should take that next step this year.
i’m in heaven now that we’ve got the college boys and nba poppin’ off. all i need now is to see manny pacquaio and floyd shoot a fair one.
November 18th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Sho-Nuff says:
I think UNC has the #1 class now that they added Barnes.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
ali says:
still shaking out w/ a bunch of top prospects yet to decide. unc and memphis are right up there though.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Blk Caesar says:
Yeah man that Gonzaga/MSU was good.. MSU survived that one.. I liked the kid big kid from the Zags.. I think his name is Elias Harris.. Played with the German national team this summer I think. Oh and heads slept on that kid Josh Pastner.. He is a serious recruiter.. Ask anybody at Arizona how he was instrumental in getting dudes to come out there… I would love to see Floyd and Pac man get it on…
November 18th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Sho-Nuff says:
ali,
I just figured as of now….
#1 Barnes
#13 Bullock
#19 Marshall (ALL TO UNC)
Beats
#5 Barton
#21 Jackson
#24 Kendrick (ALL TO MEMPHIS)
Using ESPN100 three in top 20 including #1 overall.
-
November 18th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
ali says:
i’m more partial to rivals.com’s rankings who have memphis w/ 3 of the top 12 prospects in the 2010 class. either way sho-nuff, for pastner to even be in this mix, given calipari’s departure, the odor surrounding the program’s vacated championship appearance, playing in conference usa, etc. that’s quite an accomplishment for a first year, 32 year old coach.
and cease, how in the bloddy heck is gonzaga not on anybody’s early season top 20? they’ve got the grit, the size and and bouldin on the perimeter. harris is definitely ready, considering he’s a freshman. and the 7-footer robert sacre has monster potential. and they’ve got a 7′5″ kid that’s though to shoot over down low. the young pg goodson looked a lil’ shook and lucas gave him the biz, but the zags are gonna be a problem for anybody this year.
and the floyd and pac man joint will be a hagler/leonard, ali/frazier type all time classic.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Ricki Lutes says:
This was an great article on a really GREAT player, it’s just sad his career had to end like that, no basketball player deserves such an ending on their career.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:05 am
ali says:
thanks ricki. glad you enjoyed the piece.
November 20th, 2009 at 11:32 am
ali says:
carolina backcourt looks very shaky. they’ve got great depth, big man wise, but if their guards don’t show some major improvement, they ain’t makin’ major noise this year. i don’t know why everybody thinks they’re pre-ordained for the final four. they lost one of the college game’s great backcourts in ellington and lawson and if drew and strickland play like they did last night, (to quote the great modern day philosopher ocho cinco) “Child Please!”
by the time i got back from my kids’ track practice and cooked them dinner last night, the syracuse game was over. wanted to catch them going up against jerome randle and patrick christopher from cal. i didn’t think it would be that lopsided. how did wes johnson and the freshman triche look for ‘cuse? if anybody saw it, share your thoughts.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
fan says:
Eric Maynor & Beabouis from Dallas are having very good yrs in regards to MPG. They could & should be starting for a lot of other teams. It’s funny how some rookies no matter how talented go to some teams & rot. Some of they lose their confidence and some go the Gilbert route. BONKERS. Just wish some of the vets would push the rookies to set their career off. You’re established already pave the way like it was for you. These vets want to play & start forever. They seem to have no respect for the youngsters. I’m glad they’re making noise. I’m very dissapointed in Johnny Flynn play. He actually a real PG playing like a scoring guard. Fastest way to the bench or record like they have now.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
fan says:
Do you guys think the Knicks would have been doing better w/ Rubio. If all the top players from NYC were from abroad they’d be lottery picks and rich before 21. Shameful that being from the states is backward in the way of these Globalizing GM’s. You might as well substitute a few European teams for the Nets & Knicks. They’d more than likely get blown out worse. What really happened to the overall talent in basketball?????
Seriously. Do you remember the sport a few yrs back. They’re were a lot less bums in the league,College,Overseas. Abroad is definitely catching up but I think were falling off.
I also never thought Jay Will was a true PG. Great college career but never saw it transitioning in the pros. I miss seeing him play though. He was a good guy. I like him commentating though. Has lots of great insight and he actually knows what he’s talking about. Should also make a great coach one day. Came from nothing but Great programs. That accident really tore his body up. You can’t see any of his old form.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
illest says:
fan….rubio…please son. the knicks could have chris paul and they would still be trash. son, the knicks dont care about this year. realize it.
its all about organizations son. look at the lakes, spurs, and celts. its starts at the top. jason williams did transition well…you could see that buy his triple double vs the nets. he was on his way.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:56 am
andy@chicks_n_kicks says:
yeah always fun to speculate what could have been, glad to see he’s got a career in broadcasting to fall back on, where’s Shaun Livingston these days?
December 8th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
ali says:
shaun livingston is a shell of his former self, riding the pine for the oklahoma city thunder.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:42 am
funkalot says:
Ali,
Shaun Livingston’s story is sad because that young fella had serious goods. Penny Hardawayish,
speaking of which, who was the hardest Hardaway, Penny or Tim?hmm
December 9th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
fan says:
Funks
Penny was more of all around PG & with that size I’d go for Penny. Timmy though MANNNNNNNNNNN. He was doing that with a bum knee. He had an unstoppable move which isn’t fair. LOL and a deadly outside shot. His floater might have been worse than Parkers. Probably a much better scorer & clutch. It would be by opinion. Hell would have liked both of them in my backcourt. I miss both of those guys. You know how trandscendent they were by looking at Lebron and Deron, Bynum, Sheronn and the lineage of guards from Chi. Zeke,Tim Hardaway. That’s the GuardPrint
December 10th, 2009 at 10:10 am
illest says:
fan…thats the most knowledgeable and sensible comment you have ever made. watching penny on scholastic sports america was one of the most unbelievable sites. penny and oneal……sounds like an 80s r and b group but those two guys at their infancy were one of my favorite duos.
the whole oneal dynamic is interesting….the great guards he has played with…jackson…penny….bryant…wade….james. he should have at least 7-8 rings. they had the better team than the rockets in 95. if they won that chip he probably would of left to pursue his rap career and movies in la anyway. he should have won at least 5 with him and bryant. then of course the 1 with wade. oneal is one of the luckiest (besides the obvious) to ever play.
anyone catch that outside the lines wheres the white american nba player? i loved it because there is no place for them. stern has tried to stop it but he cant. this has been evolving since the late 70s. the european player is the only way to try and slow down the nba from being 100 percent black.