Syracuse Basketball: ‘We’re going to be back on top,’ Benny Williams says

Syracuse basketball 2021 commit Benny Williams had a ton of positive things to say about the Orange in a recent interview.

Syracuse basketball 2021 commit Benny Williams is a confident, hard-working and humble young man who has some big plans for his upcoming tenure on the Hill.

The 6-foot-8 small forward, rated as five stars and a top-25 player nationally in the 2021 cycle according to Rivals.com, says that while growing up, the Orange amounted to his dream school.

In a recent virtual interview with Zach Schumaker, Williams said that among the former Syracuse basketball stars that he admired during his younger years is Dion Waiters, who was a lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and is currently a member of the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers, which just won the 2020 league title.

In early June, Williams chose the ‘Cuse over his other three finalists in Georgetown, Maryland and Miami. Williams told Schumaker that if he didn’t pick Syracuse basketball, he would have ended up at Maryland, which is his father’s alma mater.

However, Williams has known for quite some time that his collegiate destination would arrive in Central New York. Ever since the Orange offered him a scholarship, which occurred in April of 2019, Williams says that Syracuse basketball coaches have done a great job of staying in consistent communication with him.

Williams, a senior in high school, adds that he’s “lucky” to attend college and play basketball while getting a free education. “It’s a blessing.”

Over the summer, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Williams transferred from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Md., to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where 2022 five-star target Jarace Walker also suits up.

The IMG Academy is often one of the premier prep-school programs across the country, and Williams says that in competing on a daily basis against exceptional players, “everyone is getting better” and “getting ready for college.”

Syracuse basketball 2021 commit Benny Williams, a five-star prospect, wants to win at the ‘Cuse and keep on honing his craft.

Before hitting a growth spurt in which he went from 5-foot-9 to almost 6-foot-9, Williams played point guard. He says that, today, he is comfortable suiting up point guard, shooting guard, both forward spots and perhaps even at center.

He’s working hard on making his ball-handling “tighter” and being more disciplined with his shooting – “not just shooting it to shoot it.” Williams doesn’t think that there’s anything he can’t do on a basketball court, although to thrive in college and, hopefully, the NBA, he must continue to get more consistent in every aspect of the game.

It’s endearing to hear about Williams discussing how he often thinks about putting on a Syracuse basketball jersey and stepping onto the court at the Carrier Dome for the initial instance. “I will love it for sure … those will be some crazy moments,” he says.

Williams believes that the Orange will secure another recruit or two in its 2021 class, and the future looks bright with five-star point guard Dior Johnson headlining what could prove a stellar 2022 cycle for the ‘Cuse.

“We’re going to be back on top,” Williams says.