Paul Savramis Talks About Rising Star Alumni and Former Student Jay Williams

Jay Williams is a two time college all american,national champion and  former professional basketball player ( 2nd overall pick just after Yao Ming in the 2002 NBA Draft.) His career was promising, his future bright. But fate intervened. In this retrospective, Paul Savramis discusses the remarkable spirit of the former Rising Stars student athlete.

Q: How do you know Jay Williams?

Paul Savramis: Jay was one of my most promising student athletes in high school. We grew very close as he matured into a young man. In my opinion not only was Jay unquestionably one of the best point guards in college basketball history but also one of the best rounded students in college . Though he no longer plays, Jay is now among the top basketball analysts at ESPN and Rising Stars’ Goodwill Ambassador.

Q: Why did you encourage Williams to finish college instead of going directly into the NBA?

Paul Savramis: Jay was offered the chance to leave Duke after winning a national championship his sophomore year as the number one pick in the NBA draft. As proud as I and his parents were of his accomplishments on the court, we all agreed that Jay’s basketball skills were rivaled only by his academic prowess. We all agreed that professional  basketball could wait one more year. He proved that was the right decision when he earned a degree from the University in just three years, which for Duke is a highly unusual feat. Today that accomplishment off the court is as regarded as those he has made on it.