More Fayetteville Observer Goodness: CJ WIlliams Feature

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Two things are for certain as Williams enters his sophomore season in Raleigh driven to spark a Wolfpack resurgence.

First and foremost, he'll be thrust into a leading role as the team's starting shooting guard, assured of more consistent playing time after a freshman season in which his minutes fluctuated wildly. (Williams logged more than 15 minutes in 16 games yet did not play in five others.)

Secondly, the former Jack Britt High School standout is attacking Year 2 with newfound aplomb, confident he has expanded his game and feeling more comfortable as a vocal leader for the Pack.

Aside: We tend to focus most of our attention scanning the local, larger papers when looking for news about State and the ACC -- The N&O, The Durham Herald, Greensboro News And Record and Charlotte Observer -- but the folks down in Fayetteville quietly do a fantastic job of covering ACC sports, as well.

Their coverage of State has increased with the addition of Fayetteville high school product CJ Williams to the Wolfpack team in 2009.

I grew up in the Fayetteville area and read the (then) Observer-Times regularly. Back then just as it is now, they place a great deal of focus on prep sports in the Cumberland County area. They especially love following a local product when he continues his career to the next level. I can remember plenty of pieces in the mid 90s on Jeff Capel from South View when he made a name for himself at Duke.

But moreso than simply being from Fayetteville, it helps that Williams is such a mature and grounded young man. He entered the State program that way, earned high praise from the coaching staff for it, and continues to prove his maturity beyond his years. A dirty little secret (that's really not much of a secret at all) is that nice guys with great personalities get more and better press than jerks and limp rags. It's not necessarily intentional, but it happens because -- just like in real life -- people like to seek out and surround themselves with folks that are fun to be around. In the sports reporting world, people like that make your job enjoyable and easier.

Jim Valvano was a perfect example. Sure, he made a name for himself winning a title, but his personality had reporters from all across the country beating down his door in Case to do story after story after feature after feature.

In a similar fashion, CJ's outgoing demeanor I'm sure makes him a "fun" interview, which is only a good thing for State fans looking for more coverage of Wolfpack hoops and Williams, in particular.