Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Men’s Basketball Head Coach Matt Figger announced on Friday the signing of 6-8 forward Daylen Williams, who has Division I experience at Cleveland State, for the 2022-23 season.
Williams comes to UTRGV from the College of Southern Idaho with two years of eligibility remaining. This past season, Williams averaged 8.0 points on 52.8% shooting from the field and 33.9% shooting from behind the arc, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 33 games (32 starts).
In 2020-21, Williams averaged 3.7 points on 41.5% shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 24 games (one start).
Williams started his collegiate career at Cleveland State in 2019-20, seeing action in 14 games (one start) and averaging 1.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 9.8 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 10 points with a season-high seven rebounds against Missouri State on Nov. 12. He also collected a season-high four steals against Florida International on Nov. 19.
Originally from Los Angeles, Williams averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks to lead Fairfax High School to the 2019 California Interscholastic Federation Open Division Title, a 27-2 record, and the No. 48 national ranking according to MaxPreps.
“Daylen is a high energy player,” Figger said. “He’s a terrific offensive rebounder and one of the better offensive rebounders out there right now. He can play multiple positions, defend multiple guys, and make some 3-pointers. Daylen’s a really good passer for someone his size and a is a very unselfish, team-first type guy.”
Williams joins 6-6 guard Derrius Ward, 6-7 forward Ahren Freeman, 6-11 forward John Shanu II, 6-3 guard Will Johnston, 6-5 guard Sherman Brashear, 6-7 guard/forward C.J. Jackson, 6-10 forward Dima Zdor, 6-0 guard Adante Holiman, and 6-7 forward Isaiah Barganier as part of the 2022-23 recruiting class.
