Jeenathan Williams interview (Lucky 7)!

That'll get us started here. So happy to have star and D1 basketball athlete Genoethan Williams on Jackson Sheriff Sports Radio from the University of Buffalo. Genoethan plays basketball at the University of Buffalo, 6'5, 205 pounds, and this season he's averaging— oh my goodness— 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and shooting 45.6% from the field. You gotta be kidding. Those are monster stats. And a notable performance is against number 6 Michigan in the country. 38 minutes, 32 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 14 of 22 from the field. That equals 63.6% from the field and 40% from 3-point land. Genothen, how are you getting this done? Just tell me, how did you first get into basketball? This is crazy.

How I got into basketball?

It just happened, you know, when I was young. I love basketball, being around the game. It was fun. It was something that helped me stay focused in the neighborhood I was in. Me and all my friends, we would play, you know, to stay out of trouble and stay out of the streets. So it was a good way for me to, you know, get out of the situation I was in and take it to another level.

Oh yeah, you certainly have at Buffalo. Great things this season. So did you have any role models or any people that you looked up to throughout your life?

Um, yes, I mean, my mom and my dad, those are like my role models, and my big brother, you know, those are like my role models growing up. As a kid, I always loved how hard my parents worked, you know. I know we really didn't have much growing up, but we— I watched them work hard and struggle to get us food on the table and clothes on our back. And my big brother, you know, he just was always good with sports. He was a He was a good player, but, you know, he took another path that his career just didn't go as he wanted it to.

Oh yeah, well, that's a very heartfelt and palpable experience, you know. I appreciate you sharing that. That's a really, really great experience, you know, working hard, getting food on the table, providing for the family, really, really important. Appreciate that. So, you know, why did you choose Buffalo to play basketball? And, you know, Were there any other options present at the time?

Yeah, I had a lot of options coming out of high school, but I just chose Buffalo to be an inspiration for kids in my neighborhood, you know, to come home and play. You know, I spent a year in California, you know, where I was away from my family for a whole year. So, I mean, I just wanted to get back close to home and play in front of my family, my dad and stuff. He come to all my games. So that was the real reason for me coming here.

Oh yeah, staying home for sure, staying close to home. You know, what type of contributions do you have, you know, to the community besides basketball? Is there any, you know, off-the-court stuff that you do?

Me and my mom, we gonna start something real soon. We finna start a foundation, you know, for kids in my neighborhood, you know, that really don't have much. Such as I did growing up, you know, we gonna give out book bags and school supplies and little clothes and stuff to provide for them.

That's great. Really appreciate you, you know, just that's amazing. Providing for the community, everything like that. That's great. Great work.

Yes, sir. I'm excited to get it started. Me and my mom been working on this for years now. We've always had the vision. Now we're getting to the point where we can make it happen.

Oh yeah, that next level, that next step, that's gonna be great. Can't wait to see how that turns out. It's gonna be awesome. So to you, what is— back to basketball— what's the best part about competing in basketball to you?

Just, I don't know, it's just the feeling it gives me. It's just a passion of mine. So it's just like, basketball for me is just more than basketball. It's like my life. So It's just, it gives me a feeling of just adrenaline, a rush that I just can't find anywhere else, you know. So that's really what it is about basketball for me. It's just the love for the game, you know, everything that comes with it. The bad games, the good games, the hate, the love. It's all of it. So I just love it. I love the process.

All rooting from day one too. That's great. All rooting from day one, you know. From your story, you know, keeping you off the street and stuff and playing with your friends, keeping you out of trouble and everything like that from day one, you've just had a passion for basketball.

Yeah, definitely, definitely.

Oh yeah. So, Jathan, this stat just actually came across my computer. Did you know that your points per game average is 52nd in the entire country, which is fabulous? I mean, this is—

I didn't know that.

Oh yeah, you're ahead of guys That's amazing, bro. You're ahead of guys like Marcus Sasser, Buddy Boeheim, Drew Timmy from Gonzaga, Hunter Dickinson. I mean, dude, these are crazy names. You played against Hunter Dickinson. These are amazing big names, and you're making your presence felt in the NCAA. This is great, great stuff. How do you feel?

I mean, I don't feel no way about it.

I put in work, you know, I put in a lot of work, so I expect I expect more from myself, honestly, you know, but I mean, I'm, I'm just trying to grind and win games with my team and have a good year, you know.

Hell yeah.

That's really what I'm trying to do. I'm not really focused on individual stats. I don't check that stuff. I'm just trying to win games and be efficient and good every game.

Hell yeah. I appreciate it. I respect the crap out of that. That's amazing. Carry your team to March Madness, you and your team just connecting on a different level and going to March Madness. That'd be the goal.

Yes, sir.

That'd be great. So take me through your daily routine for Buffalo basketball. What's, what's your routine looking like?

Okay, I got you. So we wake up, weights usually at like 8. So wake up at around like 7:15, get a little breakfast, make a little oatmeal or something.

Oh yeah.

Grab a little snack. Get ready. I do a little stretch before I go to weights. Go to weights, lift from like 8 to 8:45. And chill in the locker room for a little bit till 10 o'clock. I go and do rehab for my shoulders and my legs just to stay proactive with my body. And going at 10:35, I go work out on the court before practice. Till about 11:15, and then 11:30 we got film. And that lasts about an hour and 30. Come back down, practice, get out of practice around like 2 o'clock, 2:30. And then I shoot after practice and then go to the training room, call it a day.

Oh yeah, that— it's a busy day, my friend. That's a real busy day.

Oh yeah, that's every day.

Do you have free time at the end of the day usually?

Um, not, not really. I mean, you get home around like 5 o'clock, you eat, it's already dark, you chill, you know, chill, fool around with the guys for a couple, and that's about it.

Wow.

About 10 o'clock and you gotta wake up and do it again.

That's a long, that's a long day, my friend. Jesus, how do you do it every day? I mean, just Waking up. What time you wake up? You wake up like really, really early?

Yeah, like my alarm go off 6:50. That's 6:50.

And you don't get back to your house till 5?

Till 5. Oh boy.

What a day, man. What a freaking day. That, I mean, that is everyone out there, for all the listeners, that is a day right there. That is a hard-working day. That's a working day right there. So, you know, with that in mind, how do you stay in shape? You know, whether it's the offseason or just in general?

I'm just going hard in practice and weights, you know, taking it serious. You know, keeping your body right is the most important. Stretching, drinking water, you know. In practice, we practice hard, so I really don't worry about getting out of shape. I mean, yeah, I'm always— I'm always good. It's really lifting though. Lifting helps your body stay healthy, keep you in good shape, and keep your muscles You know, the way you want them to be. So—

Oh yeah. How many times are you in the gym a week? Oh, what were you saying?

You said how many times a week?

Yeah.

Like this without school?

Without practice?

I mean with and without. We'll do with. How about that? Just with.

Every day.

Every single day you're in the gym lifting, man.

At least 2 to 3 times. At least 2 to 3 times a day.

That is commitment right there, my friend. Jesus. Oh my. And that long day, just thinking about that, that is huge. Wow. Oh boy. Oh my.

You get used to it.

You get used to it. I mean, like they say, it takes about 21 days to develop a habit. So I mean, you get used to it.

Hell yeah. I mean, you certainly have. You're lighting it up this year in the NCAA and your team Looking great. So, you know, how— what's something that you think you need to improve on the most? A skill or whatever?

Every— when this question gets asked, I say everything. There's nothing that you can't not work on, you know. You always can better yourself somewhere.

So I just say everything.

I love, you know, just the work and I love the process of just getting better. So I feel like you always can grow in every area, you You know, getting more fat, getting faster, getting stronger, being more conditioned, shooting, dribbling, you know, making reads. There's always, there's always some room for improvement.

So I just say everything.

You want to tighten up everything on the offseason. And I know when that time comes, which I'm not even thinking about right now, but when it comes, we will tighten up on everything.

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Do you have like a favorite Favorite, you know, way of basketball? You like offense more, defense, you know, playmaking?

I like both sides of the ball. I enjoy both sides, you know, just, you know, competing on both sides. It just, you know, it's lovely. You know, it's lovely. It just gives you a feeling that you, like I said, that you just don't get nowhere else. Like when you You going hard on defense, you going hard on offense. Like, you just feel like you're on top of the world. Oh yeah.

Oh, I mean, at 6'5, you definitely are. 6'5, 205. I just respect the, the mobility, the agility, how you can shift from position to position very quick and very easily.

Let's make this, um, you know, clear on this interview.

Yeah.

I'm 6'6.

6'6, my bad.

Yeah, 6'6, 206.

206.

Yeah. All right. Yeah.

Got you. Got you. That's my bad.

I'm petty. You good. I'm petty. That pound and an inch, I need all of it, you know?

Oh yeah. All right. Got you. Got you.

I'm petty.

I got you. What's one— what's one word that describes you as a basketball player?

I'm driven. Driven. I'm driven. You know, I just want to be successful and change my family lives. And not only that, you know, I want to shape my career and have a good career. You know, I've been working.

I work hard for this game all my life since I took it seriously.

So I feel like I'm not gonna short myself. I'm gonna take it all the way.

Got you. Got you driven. I respect that. I love that mindset. And like you said, you can get better at every single thing that is basketball related. I totally respect that. I agree with you on that. So last couple questions here. What do you think, you know, if there's 5 seconds left in the game on the clock in the entire game and your team is down 1 point, what move are you trying to make to score?

I'm going to the rim. I don't know which move I'm gonna use. I'm going to the rim though.

Gonna use the size. You just get the ball and just straight to the rack.

Yeah, I might, you know, use a little hesitation, throw them off balance. You know, freeze them up a little bit, little hip change, get to the left side of the basket, layup. Respect.

What's your— last 2 questions here. What's your message to everyone out there in the world? Do you have a message in terms of hard work or leadership?

Yeah, you know, just be yourself and, you know, don't be a follower, be a leader and just continue to work hard every day. And enjoy the process. Don't look for results, just enjoy the process and you will get whatever you're looking for.

Oh yeah, I got that. Hard work for sure and looking for whatever you can do with that hard work and skill, it'll come. Definitely good. So last question here, what are your plans at the moment in terms of, you know, whether it's going to the NBA or transferring to another college or using a COVID year? I know there's Something with COVID years, or what are you thinking?

Yeah, I'm going to the NBA.

Yes, sir. Oh my God, I love that, that mindset. You're going to the NBA. I love it, man. I'm gonna— I'm so excited for that.

I'm so hyped.

I'm really, really excited that— I mean, dude, if you keep playing the way you are, your team, everything's looking great.

Yeah, definitely.

100%.

I mean, that's about, you know, we just focused on now staying where my feet is and just working hard every day and Hell yeah. Trying to get better.

Got you. I got you, man. Well, appreciate you coming on the show. And by the way, for the record, ESPN has you listed at 6'5, 205. So I mean, I don't know, brother.

They're snubbing you. That's high school stuff, you know what I'm saying?

Yeah, they're snubbing you, bro. They got the wrong stats.

Well, that's high school stuff, man. You know what you do.

I got you, man. Thanks for coming on the show, bro. I really appreciate it. We can definitely run it back soon for sure, man.

Yeah, for sure, man. Just let me know, man.

I appreciate it.

Good luck for the rest of the year. I know your game got canceled yesterday with UC Irvine, but I appreciate you coming on the show, taking some time out of your day. I know you're a busy man. Uh, go Buffalo! I'm ready, baby.

Thank you. Stay safe, man.

You too. See you later, bro.

Yep.

Peace, bro. That was Genothon Williams from Buffalo, the University of Buffalo. Wow, guys, what an interview. ESPN actually has his stats wrong, so there is a flaw on ESPN. So there you go, an amazing interview with the 52nd scorer in the entire country. How crazy is that? An amazing basketball player, amazing all-around player, and his team is doing great things. Shout out to Janethan Williams.