2017 Introduction: Kiana Williams
MORE: Subscribe today and access our expanded women's basketball coverage
RELATED: Offseason update with Kate Paye
RELATED: 2017 Introduction: Deja Church
Kiana Williams of Karen Wagner High in San Antonio, Texas is the type of guard Stanford and head coach Tara VanDerveer need in a post-triangle world. Williams, a 2017 point guard, is the No. 17 overall player in the country according to Prospects Nation.
There are multiple schools vying for the commitment of the 5-foot-7 speedster, and the rising senior is on the verge of sending her application to Stanford. Williams said she wants a school counselor to give her application a final review when she gets home from Marietta, Georgia, where she is playing in the PSB Power 48 tournament with her AAU team, San Antonio’s Finest.
After the app is submitted, Williams plans to arrange an official visit to Stanford, which would be her first trip to The Farm.
“Everyone I talked to said it’s a beautiful campus,” Williams said. “(Coach Kate) Paye is always bragging about the weather. I can’t wait.”
Distance won’t be a factor with Williams or her family: “We’re not really worried about being close to home. We’re just looking for the best fit and education.”
Williams shared that she’d like to attend a game, but wasn’t sure if that would be too late for an official.
Williams has two other official visits planned, to Kansas and Texas Tech. While those schools may not be Stanford's traditional recruiting competitors, Williams has a connection to Texas Tech that creates a comfort level. Her former AAU coach, Ray Caldwell, is now an assistant in Lubbock.
Her current AAU coach, Koty Cowgill, praised Williams as “easy to coach and team oriented.”
“She’s smart,” Cowgill said. “She knows where kids are supposed to be (on the court) and is an extension of a coach. She’s become a verbal leader.”
Williams has been building a relationship with Stanford’s coaches. Williams said she spoke to Paye three times last week and texts with VanDerveer from time to time.
“They’re a great coaching staff. I’m excited,” she said.
Paye has talked to Williams about how she fits into Stanford’s offensive system.
“I like how they played last year with... (their) guards -- they run,” Williams said. “The few games we watched they played pretty well."
Cowgill said Williams has the skillset to be effective in any system and her work ethic is non-stop, sometimes forcing coaches to tell her to rest.
“Anybody watching would agree her game has progressed every year and she comes back with something new every summer,” he said. “The consistency in her three-point shot has been tremendous. That’s been showing all summer. She’s knocked down a high percentage. You can tell she’s been working on it and it’s a clean stroke.”
Williams isn’t sure what she’ll study in college but is leaning toward becoming a coach. San Antonio's Finest has a team for elementary school players, and Williams hopes to help coach them before she goes to college.
It’s a job that fits Williams’ personality. Cowgill described her as always smiling and even-keel.
“She’s process oriented and wants to know what to do next,” he added. “People gravitate toward her.”
“I love the gym,” Williams said. “I’ve been in the gym my entire life. My program has helped me and I want to make sure it lasts."