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PLAYER PROFILE: Malvern Prep's Ryan Williams Led Inter-Ac Basketball in Scoring by Just Playing His Game and Trusting His Teammates

By Malvern Student Reporter Quinn Riley, 03/06/22, 10:45AM EST

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The Rising Sophomore is Making His Mark on the Hardwood

By: Malvern Student Reporter Quinn Riley

MALVERN PA-- Malvern Prep basketball sophomore guard Ryan Williams led the Inter-Ac in scoring this season. Williams helped lead his team to one of the best seasons the Friars have had in basketball, winning their share of the Inter-Ac Title on Feb. 15th and making it to the second round of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) tournament on Feb. 26th.

“I’ve just been playing my game, trusting the offense and shots have been falling, trusting my coach, trusting my teammates – trying to get them involved,” Williams said. 

Following a fan-less year in 2020 where the Friars didn’t really have a season, the four-senior Malvern squad in the 2021-2022 season was fueled by the energetic Malvern student section, otherwise known as “Friar Nation.”

“It gives a type of energy to the game compared to last year where there weren’t any fans,” Williams said when asked about the student section being there this year. “It was just our parents in the stands and no one there, so we had to create our own energy. This year, with the student section, they already bring the energy for us, and we just feed off that – I feel like that makes us play better.

“Seeing [the student section] so into the game almost makes us have to play good in a sense,” Williams continued. “We just don’t wanna let them down because they’re like coming out there, having fun, and being excited for the game.”

The 16-year-old was asked about his biggest mentors, saying both his dad and just simply watching basketball have helped him most. 

“I’d say it’s a mixture of my dad, then I watch a lot of basketball too. I kinda just take a lot out of just people’s games,” Williams said,” and what my dad sees that I need to improve. And then just go to the gym and work on it.”

The 6-foot-2 Williams led the Inter-Ac in scoring averaging 18 points per game. But, as a freshman on varsity last year, he barely got any playing time. He talked about the challenges and what he learned from having to earn his place on the team as a freshman. 

“It taught me how nothing was given to you,” said Williams. “I was a freshman last year and we really didn’t have a season so I didn’t really play at all last year, because it wouldn’t have been fair to the seniors that lost their last year of high school basketball.

“I just worked, saw what they did, saw how they competed, saw how much energy they bring, and I tried to put that into my game this year,” he added.

In the PAISAA playoffs, the Friars (15-7, 8-2 Inter-Ac) nearly upset No. 1 seed Westtown behind a blacked-out Malvern student section the day after their first-round 68-56 win over Kiski, but Westtown hit a game-winning buzzer-beater to get by Malvern 54-51.

The Friars aren't specifically known for their basketball team Williams noted, as the lacrosse team was ranked No. 2 in the country last season, wrestling is also ranked on a national level, and the football and baseball teams consistently take home Inter-Ac titles. Even Malvern's hockey team has gained some steam. But Williams is hoping that mindset will change

Ryan Williams in game Feb. 8th vs. Penn Charter. (PSD video by James Williamson)

“Malvern is not really known for basketball,” said Williams. “But I feel like, since we won the Inter-Ac, it gives us a little bit of attention. Maybe, if we keep winning it will get us to the football level, who knows – maybe even the lacrosse level down the road.

When asked about his goals, Williams who made first-team All-League Inter-Ac, was more focused on team goals than personal accolades. 

“I’d rather win two more Inter-Ac championships than get [a personal accolade],” he said, “because I feel like it’s a better obstacle, and a better goal – and then celebrating with your whole team, it’s really fun.”

Paul Romanczuk took over as Malvern’s basketball coach three years ago after their former coach John Harmatuk left to become the basketball coach and Athletics Director at The Phelps School – a school literally just a football field away from Malvern that also possesses Boston College basketball commit Chas Kelly. Williams talked about Romanczuk and how he has helped the sophomore improve his game. 

“He’s helped me in a lot of ways,” Williams said. “He’s shown me how basketball is more than just scoring and how important defense is and how important it is to get your teammates involved – and sacrifice a little bit of yourself so we can win as a team.”

Ryan Williams in Inter-Ac Title game on Feb. 15th. vs. Germantown Academy (PSD video by Rich Flanagan)

Malvern's basketball workload has been quoted by a Malvern Student as “a real grind,” as the practices are usually a couple of hours, along with practices on the weekends. Williams said the long practice hours in the O’Neill Sports Center are worth it. 

“Some days, it does get to you,” said Williams. “I feel like it has benefited us because, well, we won an Inter-Ac Championship after all those days of working and practicing for long hours, practicing on Saturday mornings, Sunday mornings, but yeah, it definitely paid off.”

One thing is for sure, Malvern Prep will definitely be seeing more dividends on the court from this player next season.