Reed guard Williams powers team to state title, leads 4A All-State squad

There always is room for improvement, especially for a sophomore point guard.

But it’s downright scary to think how good Gabby Williams might be in two years.

The Reed High standout scored 39 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and dished out 10 assists in the state tournament, helping the Raiders capture their first state girls basketball title in 19 years.

She is the Review-Journal’s Class 4A girls basketball Player of the Year.

”She’s young,” Reed coach Sara Schopper said. “I still think there are better things to come. I want to see where she goes and how good she gets. I’m excited for her.”

With good reason.

At 5 feet 11 inches, Williams has a big height advantage over nearly every other point guard in the state. She does everything well, handling the ball, shooting, passing, rebounding and defending.

”We ask so much of her,” Schopper said. “We ask her to be a point guard, a creator, a rebounder, sometimes our post player. She can play any spot.”

Though she struggled with her shooting touch in the state tournament, Williams still posted 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in a semifinal win over Foothill, then backed it up with a 24-point, four-rebound, four-assist effort against Reno in the title game.

”She just reads the floor so well,” Schopper said. “She’s long and she’s quick. She’s an amazing player. She really creates her own shots. She’s developing that 3-pointer, which has ended up being awesome, because most people will back off on her, and she can hit the shot.”

On a team that also featured UNR recruit Nyasha LeSure, a 6-1 post player, and good shooters in senior Sierra Hooft and sophomore Tyler Sumpter, Williams averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals per game.

”She is our leader,” Schopper said. “Everything goes through her. Her teammates respect her a lot. They know how good she is, and she makes everyone else better.”

Still, Williams’ biggest attribute might not be points or rebounds or anything else that can be measured in numbers.

Her level of confidence on the floor is a steadying force. Even if she misses a shot or commits a turnover, Williams doesn’t back down.

”She’s probably played thousands and thousands of basketball games,” Schopper said. “She’s played in so many different situations that I don’t think any situation thrown at her would scare her. She has seen a lot. Sometimes she’s overcoaching on the floor, because she’s reading something that other people don’t see.

“She’s just smart.”