Magnolia’s Williams Has Plenty on the Ball : Orange League: Senior guard hopes to use his skills and potential to lead Sentinels to their first league title since 1987.

Give Aaron Williams a basketball and all kinds of things start happening.

He’ll dish inside to a teammate, or he’ll pull up outside for a three-pointer. Don’t cover him too tight, or he’ll drive past you and throw down one of his patented dunks.

Williams, a 6-foot-3 senior guard at Magnolia High, can do just about anything he pleases with a basketball. And with three other starters returning, the Sentinels are the favorites to win the Orange League this season.

“I would definitely put Aaron among the top 10 in the county offensively,” Magnolia Coach Al Walin said. “He can shoot outside, slash to the basket. He has good touch and great speed.”

With all his skills and potential, Williams, a three-year starter, hopes to lead Magnolia to its first league title since 1987.

Last season was disappointing for Williams and his teammates. Despite having one of the more talented teams, they finished 8-15 overall and fifth in league with a 2-8 record.

Teammates bickered, and Williams said they couldn’t run a patterned offense.

“There was a lot of ball-hogging,” he said. “One person would get mad, and everybody would get mad.”

Still Williams, a three-year starter, averaged 15 points, but then was declared academically ineligible late in the season. Magnolia struggled without its leading scorer.

“I thought I had the grades but I was missing work in some of my classes,” he said. “But I got some help. (Teammate) Frank Henderson helped me with math and history. I’m doing well now.”

Williams and Henderson also tackled the team’s attitude problem during summer league. They held team meetings, preaching unity and better defense.

“We told them we had to practice harder,” Williams said. “We got rid of the attitudes, and that helped us a lot. We don’t have any individuals out there.”

As a result, the Sentinels improved. They went 21-2 during the summer league with a talented lineup that included Williams, Henderson, 6-5 forward Brandon Hearvey, 6-3 center Demetrius Maltie and 5-10 guard Dustin Martin, a transfer from Mater Dei.

“This was our best summer ever,” Walin said. “We just have to control ourselves a little better. If everyone stays out on the floor, works on their academics and stays focused, we should be fine. We just let a lot of little things get in our way last year.”

Clearly, Williams is the Sentinels’ leader this season. Walin expects Williams to average well into double figures, but notes that his defensive game needs improvement.

“He can be a good defensive player if he picks his intensity up,” Walin said.

Williams doesn’t need to look far for motivation, saying a league championship would be the perfect end to his senior season.

“This year should be the highlight,” he said.

Walin doesn’t downplay his team’s chances.

“We’re the favorites,” he said. “If we play the way we did this summer, we’ll get the recognition. The pressure’s all on them (the players). I told them they can only self-destruct themselves.”