Paul W. Bryant's Javion Williams embraces Sixth Man role: 'Heart over height'

In the game of basketball, the Sixth Man is not a starter, but is the first player off the bench.

They are the player that is always prepared to give their team a spark — offensively or defensively — and the player that is always ready to go for their team. They may not necessarily score the most points or make the most assists, but their presence is felt on the court in other ways.

That is what Paul W. Bryant's Javion Williams has been to the Stampede this season, which is coming off a Class 6A final four appearance in 2023 and looking to make another deep playoff run this go-around.

Williams stands at 5-foot-6 and weights 134 pounds, measurements that are under the average for a basketball player. Williams, though, does not let that stop him.

"Heart over height," Williams said. "I don't let my height make me a disadvantage on the court. I always fight."

The junior guard is in his first season with the Stampede after transferring from Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa the year prior. His role as the Sixth Man on the team, he said, is simple — bring energy.

"I think I bring a lot of energy for the team," Williams said. "When we are down, my role is to come in, get the ball to our players, get my wide-open shots and just bring a whole lot of energy to the table."

Williams did not always have the role that he does now. In fact, coming into the season and joining a new program with such immense talent, Williams knew he would have to work to see time on the court. To ensure he could do so, Williams went to Paul W. Bryant head coach Shon Peck-Love and the Paul W. Bryant coaching staff asking what he needed to do to see playing time.

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"He came in and asked what he could do to get playing time," Peck-Love said, "and we told him the first thing he was going to have to do was be a defensive player, and that's what he does."

Williams' spark was immensely felt in the Stampede's Class 6A, Area 6 championship game against Northridge on Feb. 8. Paul W. Bryant was without starter Rafe Merriweather, who was out with an injury, and the team was looking to fill the hole left by him. While Williams was not in the Stampede's starting-five, he was the next man on the court.

Williams, who ended up fouling out in the contest, came up with two steals and one assist as Paul W. Bryant went on to defeat Northridge for its second-straight area tournament title. He also added four points, two rebounds and another steal in the Stampede's 62-45 victory over Pelham in the Class 6A sub-regionals on Feb. 10.

"He comes in, gives us a spark on the defensive end," Peck-Love said. "He hounds the point guard, makes it difficult for them to get in their sets. That's what he did tonight (vs. Northridge). But overall, he just gives us that spark of energy that we need off the bench. It doesn't necessarily have to be scoring, just that spark."

The spark Williams brings is something that is echoed by other teammates.

"He is just so energetic," Paul W. Bryant guard Adrian Wooley said. "It's just him and his defense, his offense, the way he can impact the team is great."

Now, Williams looks to continue to bring the energy and the spark the Stampede need as they begin their quest to claim the Class 6A state title and their first since 2017.

"He came in and made an immediate impact," Peck-Love said. "We tell him, anybody that size, that small, you have to bring something extra, and he steps up to the challenge every night on the defensive end ... He just gives us that electric spark that we need. The guys look forward to him coming in. He comes in sometimes and gives Adrian (Wooley) a load of relief off the ball that allows him to play differently, but he's a great benefit for us."

Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA Basketball: Bryant's Javion Williams embracing Sixth Man role