Williams' pro career nears

Cardozo basketball Coach Ron Naclerio saw that high-wire dunking ability back in the late 90's when Ryan Williams was a part of the Judges' lone city championship in 1999. One season, Williams shattered a pair of backboards, so the coach instituted a new no-dunk rule for his fearsome yet undersized power forward.
There was no such rule, however, at the Entertainers Basketball Classic All-Star game at Madison Square Garden. There, Williams, the former Cardozo and St. John's University forward, put on a show, scoring 34 points with his gravity-defying theatrics. That raw athletic ability that enables the muscular 6-foot-4 wing to soar through the air above all others is his claim to fame. It made him a star for Coach Naclerio at Cardozo and earned him a scholarship to St. John's.
But if he's to earn a living at this basketball thing, he will no longer be able to get by solely on his reverse dunks and alley-oop slams. Wherever he goes - professional leagues in Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Sweden and Spain are all options - Williams knows more will expected.
&#8220They like leapers, but they want somebody who can score, that can rebound and play defense, that does everything,” he said. &#8220That's what I worked on at St. John's, and I'll bring that over there.”
After earning his degree from St. John's this past June, Williams now heads into the next phase of his life. No longer is he just playing the game of basketball. Now, every jumpers he sinks, every rebound he hauls in, every defensive stop he is part of, is to support his girlfriend Claribel, and their two sons, Ryan and Jason.
&#8220God gave me a talent to play and if I can make money with it, that's what I want to do,” he said. &#8220I work on my game every day. Hopefully, that will get me to the highest level.”
As Williams, a Bayside resident, will learn, the overseas game is a different ballgame. Big men are shooters, guards post up, and pick and rolls are the norm. Still, that athleticism that endeared him to the crowd at the Garden should only benefit the rugged Williams.
&#8220He'll be a weapon,” said Naclerio, who has known Williams since the sixth grade, &#8220because there's almost nobody overseas that can jump with him. … Once he learns what the pro game is about - the little nuances - I think he'll be all right. He has a tenaciousness.”
Having coached several stars in Europe, such as the Woodward brothers, Brian and Dwayne, Naclerio certainly should know. Still, he can't help but think of the possibilities if the high-flying southpaw was a few inches taller.
&#8220He'd be Ben Wallace,” said Naclerio, as serious as Williams' dunks were impressive.
Williams doesn't think about such things. He's spending the summer working out feverishly at St. John's and playing in elite summer leagues all over the city; in fact, one of his teammates with Vezzeo one evening at the Rucker Park pro league was NBA star Ron Artest. The Queensbridge native offered Williams some advice on his game, which he took with him the following morning for his daily 8 a.m. workout.
&#8220I'm just trying to get advice from everyone that I know and use it and put it into my game,” he said.