McLean County Times

Days after leading the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team to two significant victories, senior Hakim Williams was recognized as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week on Tuesday, November 12. This marks the first time Williams has received this weekly accolade.

Williams played a crucial role in guiding the 16th-ranked Titans to victory at the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational Championship, held on November 8-9. The team triumphed over No. 24 California Lutheran and second-ranked UW-Platteville.

Hailing from Round Lake, Illinois, Williams averaged 14 points per game during these two matches, achieving a shooting percentage of 76.9 percent. His performance included going 10-of-13 overall from the field and making all three attempts from beyond the arc. At the free throw line, he finished with five out of six successful shots. Additionally, he contributed an average of three assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.

In the match against Cal Lutheran, Williams led his team with 17 points on a 6-of-8 shooting record and provided five assists. He followed this by scoring 11 points in the Titans' decisive 86-66 win over No. 2 UW-Platteville. During this game, he was instrumental in a defensive effort that restricted the Pioneers to their lowest point total since January 24, 2024, while also limiting last year's national player of the year to just five successful shots out of thirteen attempts.

The Titans are scheduled to play next at the University of Wisconsin-Stout on Saturday, November 16, with tipoff set for 11 a.m.