Mia Williams’ list of accomplishments as a student/athlete at Diboll High School is a long and impressive one, and it would encompass more than one sport.
Williams, a four-year starter on both the Ladyjack volleyball and basketball team, earned numerous awards over the span of her career. However, she said she’s known since a very young age she was destined to narrow her choices down to the sport she loves most – and on Wednesday, she took the next step by signing a letter of intent to play basketball with the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners beginning in the fall of 2017.
“When I was four years old, my uncle (Bodie Williams) was teaching me everything he knew about basketball,” Williams said. “He played at Diboll High School and went on to AC, and he got me started loving basketball.”
In her time as a Ladyjack hoop star, Williams was a two-time All-State selection; a two-time All-Region recipient; a two-time District MVP; a four-time All-District player; and the 2013 District Newcomer of the Year.
With so many accolades on her resume, there were several options when it came to continuing her playing career at the collegiate level. For Williams, who will major in Athletic Training, the choice came down to those closest to her.
“I want to play at Angelina College because it’s close to my family, and I know they want to come and watch me play,” Williams said. “Plus, I already know a lot of the players. I played against some of them in high school.”
Williams will bring an impressive skill set to Lady Roadrunner head coach Byron Coleman’s basketball program, possessing the abilities to handle the ball, shoot from the perimeter and distribute to her teammates.
“Mia can do multiple things,” Coleman said. “She can handle the ball, she may be one of the best passers I’ve seen and she can stroke the three. She’s going to give us so many options with the girls we have already. She’s played in a dribble-drive system, which is really good for us. Coach (Andre) Emmons has done very well implementing that system here, and her familiarity with the system will allow us to have several good ball handlers on the floor at the same time.”
Coleman, also a three-sport star at Diboll in his high school playing days, said he’s watched Williams developing as a basketball player since her freshman season.
“We knew early on she was going to be pretty good, but she just kept getting better and better over the years,” Coleman said. “Her leadership on the floor and her competitive drive really showed. She doesn’t want to lose, and she helped the Ladyjacks to a great playoff run this past season.
“It speaks volumes that this young lady hasn’t lost a district game in her four years here. What she and Coach Emmons and the other kids have done is just fabulous, and Mia’s the kind of competitor we need. She’ll be a big plus for us.”
Williams is the daughter of Mallory Williams of Diboll.
