DEMARIO WILLIAMS
School: Gateway
Year: Senior
Height: 6-foot
2015-16 averages: 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Season highlights: Gateway underwent another coaching change in the offseason, as Jason Dixon came aboard in hopes of turning around a program that has been absent from the Class 5A playoffs for a few seasons. Dixon had worked with the Olys’ lower levels in the previous season and been around the program enough to know that he would have a number of seniors on the varsity team (nine in all) that while devoid of a real superstar, had players with diverse skill sets. Gateway dropped its first seven games of the season, but then won seven of its next eight and fnished with a 10-13 overall mark. The Olys had shooters and it had players more comfortable in the paint, while senior DeMario Williams fell somewhat in between. He attempted at least one 3-pointer in almost every one of Gateway’s games, yet he also frequently attacked the basket. On a team with that got scoring from a lot of places —seven players averaged four points or more per contest — Williams led the way with an average of 9.7 points per game, bolstered by 11 games in double figures. He poured in a season-high 22 points in the Olys’ 71-54 win over Kennedy on Jan. 8 and had back-to-back 17-point showings in a win over Denver North (Jan. 30) and loss to Aurora Central (Feb. 2).
Williams vs. Aurora teams: Vista PEAK (7 points); Hinkley (3 points & 6 rebounds & 6 assists); Aurora Central (17 points & 3 steals); Rangeview (8 points & 4 rebounds)
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
