pic credit: Zoe Ruschenschwind

The first thought that a young, ambitious and hungry player might have when landing on the campus of a JUCO school could be “what the hell am I doing here”? I´m way better than having to be here”. Guys land in JUCO for many reasons. Some don´t have the money, others don´t have the grades and others don´t have the necessary skills at that point of their basketball careers. But as time goes by, a lot of these guys start to believe that going the JUCO route wasn´t so bad after all. I believe the percent number of guys who went to JUCO and felt it was one that was tough, but one they wouldn´t have traded the world for is 100%. Ok I ´ll stay on the safe side and say somewhere around 99,5%. Ok so many of the players are playing for their stats and trying to move up to higher divisions, but there are also guys who learn the team game and actually win their first chips there. Nothing is impossible in JUCO. The way to the NCAA and going pro overseas is a reach, but it has been done. Guys even reached the NBA with guys like Chris Boucher or Richaun Homes just to mention a few. These NBA players and others are the best motivation for JUCO guys to give all they have to reach their goals. The guys that play JUCO definitely pay their dues, but there are some guys that have to go the whole 9 yards and have to play at 3. I thought that had to be the hardest hurdle, but it wasn´t. Asa Williams (198-SF-1999, college: Montana Tech) who is living out the dream in Germany with Pro B team BG Leitershofen actually stuck it out at 3 JUCO school something about as rare as seeing Luka Doncic not hit a trick shot in some capacity before a game. And he is more than blessed to have done it. “Juco was a great experience. I appreciate all my coaches and teammates that helped me get through my Juco route. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I think that plan in Juco build character for a lot of players. I think that if you play Juco, you will have the opportunity to make it through a lot of things in life. It shaped me into a player that can face any obstacle that comes in front of him. Juco Shaped me into the player I am today”, warned Asa Williams.

Asa Williams who lists Kyree Walker and Marvin Bagley as the toughest players that he has ever faced so far in his career on the court was born on September 15th, 1999 in Solon, Ohio. He attended Fort Loramie high school and then began his long trek of playing at 3 JUCO schools. He began his journey with Waubonsee Community College (JUCO) playing 32 games and averaging 13.9ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 42.8%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 81.0%. He then played at %, Holmes Community College (JUCO) averaging 3.9ppg, 2.2rpg and was NJCAA D1 Gulf District Champion -and NJCAA D1 Region XXIII Champion -2021. He then finished at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (JUCO) averaging 10.7ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 35.3%, 3PT: 26.6%, FT: 62.5%.” Each school I played at. I learned a lot about myself learning how to be a better player or teammate. Waubonsee taught me how to be a better scorer. Holmes taught me how to face adversity and be a better teammate while coming off the bench. CGCC taught me how to be a better player while also fighting against small problems and adversity throughout the year”, stressed Asa Williams. After having paid his dues in JUCO, he made the next step and palyed 2 seasons at Montana Technological University (NAIA) averaging 14.2ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 70.5% and 16.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 71.3%. He made huge strides in his game there. “I was more aggressive. I had a bigger goal my senior year and that was to lead my team in scoring and be the best player on the floor each night”, remembered Asa Williams. In his first season tehre he helped reach the NAIA Elite 8 losing to OUAZ. “It was a great experience made it the farthest in Montana tech history. For all sports to play in the elite 8 was a one of kind experience. I’m glad I got to experience that. Playing the national tournament is always a goal of mine. I’m glad we made it to Kansas City”, said Asa Williams. He had a reunion this season in Germany already with American Caleb Bellach who was his teammate in the NAIA and opponent with Team Ehingen. “ It was great he was one of the my favorite teammates. He was a great player winning player of the year. He had great leadership qualities and always made his teammates better. Caleb is a great player and a winning player. It was great to compete against him on the pro level”, stated Asa Williams who remembers beating him in 1-1 games in practice. He scored in double figures in 51 of 60 NAIA games including exploding for 31 points against Carroll MT, and 30 points against E Oregon. He couldn´t of made such massive strides without the guidance of head coach Adam Hiatt. “He pushed me each day in practice and coaching me as if I was a professional. Making me be a professional each day toward my teammates and coaches. Holding me to professional standards”, commented Asa Williams.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Asa Williamas in Bad Honef after a game against the Dragons Rhondorf

The 198cm forward who lists LeBron James, Kobe, Steph, and Michael Jordan on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season overseas with BG Leitershofen. “I’m super blessed God has blessed me in more ways than one I’m thankful that I got this opportunity and that Coach Richie gave me a chance and my family supports me. Just having the opportunity to play in another country and playing for my family. I’m thankful for my club and my teammates they are amazing and it’s a great opportunity”, expressed Asa Williams. The club is in it´s third Pro B season and finished 9 and 11th the last 2 seasons. This season the team is battling the RheinStars for the top spot. Leitershofen split with the RheinStars this season and the 2 games were decided by not more than 7 points. What has been the secret of the success? “Just following coaches game plan and playing together as a team. I think the goal to success is loving each other and being disciplined. We are very hungry we think we have a legitimate chance to win. We will have the opportunity to play in the playoffs so it’ll be great to be there and do something for the club that has never been done”, warned Asa Williams. The team is a scoring machine and averages more than 90 points per game and gives up less than 80 points. The team has proven that they defend with passion. “Communication is our biggest strength. We communicate with each other. I think just playing super hard and trusting one another we make the game easy for each other”, added Asa Williams. Team has an incredible big man duo of Ellias Marei and Ferenc Gillie. “They are great I think they are best big man duo in the league they both can stretch the floor and rebound well”, stated Asa Williams. The team also has another American with Christian Hinckson and Romanian Dragos Dickulescu who are both also instrumental for the success of the team. “I like that Christian spreads the court. He can also push the ball in transition. Christan is probably one of our best defenders and one of our best rebounders. He plays out of position most of the time because he is a true small forward in my opinion, but he stretches the floor at our four spot so it’s good for our team. Dragos is very valuable helps the teams in all aspects. He can play make score and read the game very well”, stressed Asa Williams.

The Ohio native who lists Chrishon Dixon- Montana Tech Sindou Diallo – Montana Tech Elias Marei- kangaroos Simeon Strauss-Waubonsee Meech Valdez- Cgcc as his 5 best teammates of all-time and Lebron James as his GOAT is a 198cm player that likes to shoot the trey and is shifty like a Jordan Poole. His biggest strength is shooting and pushing the ball in transition. But he also gives his all on the defensive end and isn´t one dimensional. “I think since coming to Europe I’m a better defender. I think that Coach Ritchie and my teammates push me each day and practice to become a better defender and I think that I’m defending the ball a lot better than what I was when I played in college at Montana Tech. I’m learning different things on defense, especially ways to help when not guarding on the ball”, stressed Asa Williams. He is shooting the three ball extremely well, but knows there is still work to do inorder to reach the next level. “To make the next step as a shooter, I just have to be more consistent each game and more consistent in practice continuing to work on my shot and listening to the things that Coach Andy helps me work on. Staying on top of this will help me become the next best shooter in Europe”, warned Asa Williams. He has needed no adjustment time as currently he is averaging 16/3/1/1. What ahs been his secret to coming over and performing so well? “Just trusting in what my coaches and teammates tell me. It’s a different game so just focusing and being coachable”, said Asa Williams. He had his best scoring game against top team RheinStars Cologne exploding for 31 points. He mustr of been extra motivated after missing the first game? “ I’m motivated for every game. It just so happened to be my day. Thankful that my teammates put me in position to win”, smiled Asa Williams. In 2 games against Coburg and Cologne he hit 17 three´s. That was the best display of shooing back to back in his career. He also hit 8 three´s last season against Carroll Mt. It will be interesting where the journey of Asa Williams will go to in the next years. This season all has been good, but you never know when adversary might challenge you? But one thing is for sure, he knows that his vast JUCO experience will always guide him through life on and off the court.