The Son Of Former UM Standout Kevin Williams Sr. Is Excelling For Sharks
Miami Dade College freshman outfielder Kevin Williams Jr. runs a blazing 6.56 in the 60 yard dash.
His athletic talents are comparable to those of his father, Kevin Ray Williams Sr., who played college football at the University of Miami and spent eight seasons in the National Football League with the Dallas Cowboys while winning two Super Bowls.
But when it came time to choose a sport to concentrate on, the younger Williams, who started playing flag football when he was 5-years-old, chose baseball, a sport he’s been playing since he was 11-years-old.
“I’m not a parent that lives through their kid,” Kevin Williams Sr. said. “I didn’t want him to feel pressured.”
The choice to stick to the baseball diamond has been a good one for Kevin Williams Jr.
The versatile outfielder, who has played all three outfield spots for the Sharks this year, boasts a .325 batting average to go with two home runs, 28 RBI, 27 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and three triples. He leads the team in RBI, runs scored and stolen bases.
Kevin Williams Jr., 19, played his first two years of high school baseball at American Heritage School in Broward County and his junior and senior years at American High School in Miami-Dade County.
He was offered a scholarship to play baseball at Kansas State University where he originally committed, but he ultimately decided to attend MDC. He was impressed with the personal attention MDC men’s Head Baseball Coach Danny Price and his staff afforded him during the recruitment process.
“Coach Price is more a mentor to me than a coach,” said the 5-foot-11 inch tall Kevin Williams Jr.
Despite the impressive numbers he has put up this year, Kevin Williams Jr. knows there’s room for improvement. For example, he is not pleased with his team leading 31 strikeouts at the plate.
“Whenever I’m struggling really bad like playing through a slump, I’ll give [my dad] a call and he’ll give me advice,” Kevin Williams Jr. said.
Though his father lives in Dallas, Texas, they try to communicate as often as possible. And Kevin Williams makes sure to occasionally send his dad videos of him playing.
“He’s a smart kid,” Kevin Williams Sr. said, “He understands what he needs to develop.”
