Chris Coduto/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman forward Marcus Williams leads all Pacific 10 Conference freshmen in scoring this season. Williams looks to take his game to the next level this week at ASU and North Carolina.

Freshman forward finds himself in starting, starring roles

If you were to pass Marcus Williams in the Student Union Memorial Center on a hot fall day in September, it would be easy to pin the youngster as a freshman.

With a baby face covered by a pencil-thin mustache, the Seattle native looks more "Diaper Dandy" than NBA Lottery pick.

If you can peer through his boyish features and watch the 6-foot-7 forward work his on-court magic, it is easy to see how he is one of the top contributors for the Arizona men's basketball team this season.

Williams has thrived in a program that started the season ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation but has dropped out of the rankings and has needed shooting from a youngster to keep the program afloat.

"He's doing a tremendous job," said junior center Kirk Walters. "He's just a great 15-foot shooter and he's also so tall, for rebounding and getting in people's faces."

Walters also noted the matchup problems that seem to come when opposing teams try to stick a smaller, quicker foe to Williams' tall frame.

"I think he's a tough (matchup) because he's a long player," Walters said. "He shoots the shot so high that it's hard to get a hand on it."

Williams might consider himself a member of the "three kings" freshman class that includes guard J.P. Prince and forward Fendi Onobun, but his production might fit better as a Scottie Pippen to senior guard Hassan Adams' Michael Jordan.

"We need him as a scorer," Onobun said. "I think he's one of the best players on this team, and he's absolutely a player we do need to continue our success."

Williams is averaging 11.2 points a game for the Wildcats, second to Adams, but showed his maturity more in the Saturday matchup against California when his shot wasn't falling.

After a 22-point career-high performance against Stanford, most freshmen might get their dauber in the dirt, but Williams decided to focus on something else that might help his team pull out a victory.

"My shot wasn't falling so I just hit the boards and kept the defensive intensity going," Williams said. "The shots fell in the second half but I'm just glad we got the win."

Williams hit the boards better against California than he has all season, pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds to go along with his nine points, nearly missing out on his first double-double.

He might look like a freshman, but the composure he carries on and off the court gives him that slight arrogance needed by all great basketball players.

Hassan has it, Salim Stoudamire left with it and Williams' favorite player, Kobe Bryant, bleeds it.

Williams talked about Bryant's Sunday night 81-point outburst during yesterday's press conference, discussing the thought process he would go through if he were guarding the Lakers all-star in just a few years.

"It gets to the point that if you get to the NBA, especially being me, I have to guard him," Williams said with a smile. "I don't know if I can handle someone giving me 81 points in a game."

Through Sunday's game, Williams is averaging 11.2 points a game in conference play, tops among freshmen, and is 13th in conference play in rebounding with 4.9 rebounds per game.

With a rivalry game coming up against ASU tomorrow and a made-for-TV event against North Carolina on Saturday, Williams said he understands the importance of getting two wins.

"I heard a lot about the rivalry, so it's going to be exciting," Williams said. "It's a tough game at their place, but I'm looking forward to it. Energy isn't going to be a problem going into that gym."

He then said that the Tar Heels have been a game on his list for a while.

"It's easy to read (the North Carolina game) on your schedule, but to actually go out there and do it, it's definitely a different experience," Williams said. "I've been looking forward to that game and we need to go in and come out with a win and show we have a legacy on the West Coast."

The freshman, who has been nicknamed "Smooth" because of his ability to make basketball seem effortless, said that as long as his success continues, the nickname can stay.

"I'm doing well with it, so I'll stick with it," Williams said.