To say that Grant Williams has had an impressive two years in Knoxville would be a gross understatement. The Charlotte native has lowered his shoulder and is crashing into the Tennessee Basketball history books. Already named 2017-18 SEC Player of the Year by conference coaches, the sophomore received a new post-season honor on Wednesday: All-American Honorable Mention.
Williams, a unanimous AP First Team All-SEC selection, led the Vols in scoring, was second in blocks and rebounds, and was fourth in assists in 2018. Grant’s big body and strong frame made him a problem in every facet of the game, for both opponents and officials. Defenders bounced off of the muscular sophomore forward all year, often unjustly drawing fouls.
As a freshman, Grant was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and scored the sixth-most points by a freshman in program history. His freshman year placed him among the freshman campaigns of Vol legends like Chris Lofton and Bernard King.
Grant Williams also entered the Volunteer history books this year as only the second Tennessee player to be named SEC POY as an underclassmen, joining Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Bernard King.
After the Vols fell to NCAA tournament cinderalla Loyola-Chicago in the round of 32, Grant Williams suggested he’ll be returning for at least one more season with the Vols. If that holds true and William’s maintains his trajectory, Rick Barnes and Co. will see Grant’s name climb as high as he chooses on the list of the greatest Volunteers of all-time.
SEC players Kevin Knox (Kentucky), Yante Maten (Georgia), and Collin Sexton (Alabama) were also named to the 2018 Honorable Mentions list. Other notable inclusions on the list included Grayson Allen (Duke), Isaac Haas (Purdue), and Joel Berry II (UNC). The somewhat predictable First Team All-Americans included Trae Young (Oklahoma), Marvin Bagley III (Duke), Deandre Ayton (Arizona), and Devonte Graham. See the entire list of AP All-Americans here.
