Cole Williams is the best basketball player in Sonoma County that you likely never heard of. Not to fret. The 6-foot-2, 205 senior's participation in the sport he loves was initially interrupted by the Covid pandemic and then again when he transferred from Casa Grande High to Saint Vincent de Paul College Prep after his sophomore year for greater rigor academically. He was deemed ineligible and forced to sit out his junior season.
With some catching up to do vis-à-vis exposure, Williams is attempting to make up for lost time. He has helped pushed his team, coached by Sonoma County hoops legend Tom Bonfigli, to a 16-0 record thus far. Aiding Williams' visibility is his participation with the North Bay Basketball Academy (NBBA).
Asked to articulate his top basketball skills, Williams offered, "I'm physically stronger than most opponents and I see myself as a lockdown defender. It's something I take pride in, winning the one-on-one matchups. I like to attack the basket with my quick first step and I'm good mid-range and with catch-and-shoot threes."
Bonfigli offered of Williams: "He is a good listener and extremely coachable. He scored 33 points (13-13 at the foul line, 1-2 from long distance), with 14 rebounds and two blocked shots last week against a good Rio Vista team in the Waterford Tourney. We won the title with a 65-56 victory over a fine Big Valley Christian team that was 15-1 prior to our final. We are currently 16-0."
He added, "He's a great jumpshooter and can get to the rim off the dribble, he is a legitimate triple threat offensive player. He loves the game and is always looking to improve. Cole is also a great leader and our captain--he sets the bar at a very high level. He has exceptional potential—he is really starting to develop his skills and is an inspirational practice player. He works out daily at 7:00 a.m. on our shooting machine. He is totally committed -- it's very rare to see this level of commitment from a high school player in this day and age. Cole is a fine young man--a real pleasure to coach."
Williams' entrance into hoops was a roundabout one. He played baseball, soccer and football but his connection with the local Boys and Girls Club got him interested in basketball. Then came the Covid lockdown and all of his sports involvement came to a halt. But during his sophomore year at Casa Grande High, "I developed a love for basketball. When I wasn't playing a lot during Covid and my ineligibility, I took the opportunity to develop myself."
He cited two events as his best basketball moments. "I was playing the the NBBA AAU team and we were down by two. The opponents missed a free throw and a pass came to me. I faked a pass, shot a three and scored. It was big for me." His second big memory came just a couple of weeks ago. "We were an underdog in a tournament (the first edition of the Gary Von Raesfeld Memorial tourney) but I played well, scored a career high 25 points and was named the Most Valuable Player." In the game he referenced, St. Vincent de Paul High won 57-38 as Williams buried a couple of treys and also grabbed eight rebounds.
Williams sees himself as a guard/wing at the college level although his height and impressive physical strength has him inside the paint a lot due to the needs and makeup of his high school team.
His desire is to major in sports medicine in college with the idea of becoming a trainer.
Not having played basketball while at Casa Grande High (his freshman and sophomore years) and forced to sit out as a junior at St. Vincent de Paul, this is really Williams' first season of high school hoops. But he has rapidly shed any rust.
Offering thank yous to those he sees as basketball influences so far in his hoops journey, Williams cited the late Kobe Bryant plus LeBron James "because they demonstrate what can be achieved if you dedicate yourself to something."
He continued, "I have learned so much from Coach Bonfigli even though this is my first year with him." Assistant Basketball Coach Nick Iacopi also received mention for his time spent with Williams. Iacopi will likely succeed Bonfigli when the latter retires at the conclusion of this season. Longtime former Harlem Globetrotter Will Bullard, the current girls head coach at St. Vincent de Paul, also came in for thanks by Williams. "I probably know just about half of what he knows."
Williams has a college ready body. He loves the game. More experience will only help but the drive to get better and to win is present. He deserves a good, long look.
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