MOREHEAD, Ky. -
Treshaad Williams isn't one to talk much on the basketball court.
He'd rather let his actions speak for him.
A 6-foot-5, 235-pound senior forward, Williams has started in each of Morehead State's 25 games this season. He is averaging 7.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. And he is shooting a staggering 72.2 percent from the field, with zero three-point attempts.
"I'm a hard worker," Williams said. "I'm silent. Pretty much you can say I do the dirty work. … But that's what I want to do. Most five men, (if) they don't get the ball as much, they'll stop helping their teammates. But I'd rather help my teammates than get the ball."
His field-goal percentage is no anomaly.
He shot 65 percent as a freshman at South Georgia Tech, as a sophomore at Northwest Florida State College and again as a junior at MSU.
"Mainly, I just stay in around the rim. Guards give me the ball, I just get it up quick. Play post defense. Just try to help my team win," Williams said. "I can shoot it from 15 feet on in. My coaches, they want me to shoot it. But I really just don't shoot because I feel like we already have enough shooters. Besides, I'm better closer to the rim than I am far away."
Williams was raised in Nashville.
That's Nashville in Georgia – population of about 5,000, known as the "City of Dogwoods."
"The best thing about Nashville, Ga., is probably the people," he said. "It's like everybody's related to everybody, so you know everybody. And, pretty much, the restaurants are all close to you."
Williams has two children in Georgia – 4-year-old Treshawn and 2-year-old Mariah. They live with their mother, Rachel.
The kids have figured out how to dial Treshaad's phone number. So, even if Rachel is asleep, they call every morning.
Williams' first name came about in part because his mother saw a music video that featured a young boy named Tre, and who resembled Treshaad. Williams' aunt suggested the "shaad" half of his name.
Treshaad is third-oldest in a family of eight. He has one brother and six sisters.
His parents, Michelle Scurry and Oliver Alexander, have been together since he was about 2. They were married in December 2015.
Williams says he speaks with his parents every day.
"It doesn't matter how small it is, I call my mom for everything," he said. "So I'm kind of a momma's boy."
He counts his dad as having the biggest influence on his personal life.
Williams started playing recreational basketball at about age 7, and also played football and baseball. His coach all along the way was his dad.
Another big figure in Williams' life was his coach at Berrien County High School, Patrick McClure.
After Williams did not make his high school team as a sophomore, McClure took over and gave him a chance as a junior. The pair became close on and off the court, and the team reached the State Tournament.
Williams also played wide receiver and linebacker on his high school football team. He was a standout on the track team, too, competing in the shot put, discus, 400 meters and 4-by-100 relay.
Also, playing a big role in his life is his mentor, Buster Montgomery.
"Mr. Buster," as Williams calls him, arranged for a tryout at South Georgia Tech. Williams earned a scholarship, went in and averaged 10.6 points and 8.2 rebounds on a team that went 29-5.
The South Georgia Tech coach retired after the season, though, and Mr. Buster suggested that Williams try a junior college. And so he landed at Northwest Florida. En route to a 33-2 national championship season, Williams averaged 8.7 points and 7.6 rebounds.
Morehead State interim head coach
Preston Spradlin, then an assistant coach, liked what he saw in Williams. Spradlin also had eyes on another Northwest Florida standout,
Xavier Moon.
Williams and Moon visited together, then committed.
Williams played in 36 games last season, notching 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds a game.
He says he is playing with much more confidence this season.
"Last year I didn't really have all that much confidence in my game," he said. "So over the summer I got in the gym a lot more. Got my free throws a lot better. And just built up my confidence to where I can play a lot better this year."
What's his favorite assignment on the floor?
"Well, of course, I like defense. Because defense wins championships," Williams said. "But, I like fighting for rebounds, getting my team extra possessions."
A criminal justice major, Williams will graduate in May.
He hopes to play professional basketball overseas. If not, he says he'd like to be a detective. And, if not a detective, then a probation or pre-trial officer.
His focus now, though, is getting the Eagles into the post-season.
As a senior, he's counted among the team leaders.
That often involves talking, something that doesn't come easily for Williams.
"Coach Preston always tells me I need to talk more. If I do, the team will follow me," he said. "I'll be trying to talk more, but … sometimes I just go back to my old self, being silent, keep doing things and try to lead by example.
"Once I get the balance in between leading by example and talking, then we'll be pretty good."
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