Oklahoma City Douglass boys squad has another player to watch in 2025 guard Jaden Williams

OKLAHOMA CITY - It was a game that won’t go down in the record books for Oklahoma City Douglass. 

If the Trojans go on to defend their Class 4A state championship, their matchup with Star Spencer in late January won’t be the contest anyone points to as a defining point for their season.

However, for those who may have been watching closely during the Trojans' 86-54 victory, they may have seen the emergence of a big-time player.

That evening in the Star Spencer gymnasium, Jaden Williams took over in every way possible. While getting accurate statistics was hard to get a hold of, most observers agreed the junior guard posted a triple-double in points, rebounds and steals.

Yet, when Williams was asked about the statistical achievement, he downplayed it and was focused on the team’s success.

“I don't worry about stats,” Williams said. “We got to win. That's it.”

Oklahoma high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (2/15/2024)

However, Williams fully admits, he would not have been able to perform at that level the year before as a sophomore. The ability to take over games was not yet in his bag.

“It is huge because last year, I know I couldn't do things like that,” Williams said. “But over the summer, we worked hard as a team in the weight room and just staying disciplined and knowing my guys, I just know where I want to be at times.”

Williams credits his work during the offseason and his teammates for the jump he has taken from his sophomore to junior campaign. 

“I worked day and night with my teammates; Davon Scott, Landry Ballard and the rest,” Williams said. “Day and night, vertical jumps, anything, box jumps, and then bench press, squats, anything we could do. They did it with me and helped me out.”

But more than anything, the biggest change in Williams came in his mindset. Knowing he wanted to take his game to the next level, the 6-foot-3, 161-pound lanky combo guard said he was prepared to do whatever it took to make that leap.

“I was always real skinny as a kid, so growing up I just always knew I had to get stronger to get where I wanted to go, to get to spots I wanted to get on the court,” Williams said. “I would say my ball handling has improved the most. I'm better at handling the ball, getting to the rim, getting to my little mid-range shot if I want to.”

Oklahoma City Douglass holds off city rival Millwood, 52-51, on late free throw 

Douglass coach Steven Alexander has also watched Williams transform his game over the past year as well.

“Jaden Williams has gotten a lot stronger. He's always played really hard,” Alexander said. “I think the fact that he's added on probably about seven, eight pounds is really helping him as far as being able to be physical in the middle of the lane. I mean, he's always shot the ball at a high cliff from the outside, but as of late, he's been able to get to the free-throw line, making the game a lot easier for himself.

"I’m impressed with everything he's done as far as his improvement. He's always been a very good defender, but now he's an even stronger defender, which is very important.”

Alexander said he expects the recruiting to pick up for Alexander after this year. Helping lead the Trojans to another state title would definitely open the eyes of several collegiate coaches to what type of player he is.

“With the transfer portal and everything that's going on, kids really aren't getting the looks that they really want until their senior year,” Alexander said. “I truly believe that not only Jaden, but other kids as well on our team, as their senior year comes around, I believe that they'll start to get a lot more offers and other things will come around because they're very good basketball players.”

Williams said he wants to play college basketball. But he isn’t going to let it be his main focus going down the stretch of this season.

“Hopefully, with time, it will come,” Williams said. “I'm going to just keep my head down and work.”

Douglass enters the Class 4A postseason with a 13-4 record, having won 11 of its past 12 ballgames. The only loss in that span was a 71-69 loss on Feb. 8 to Texas school Dynamic Prep, a team that is nationally ranked.

The Trojans will play at home for their 4A district playoff, taking on ASTEC Charter on Saturday night.

-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK