Jamaica native keys Bergtraum’s 10th straight title

Shanee Williams is nervous by nature.
As a freshman, she rarely shot the ball, in games or practice. She still passes up jumpers as one of the top juniors in the city when her first attempt does not drop.
After her 17 points, four assists and four rebounds led Bergtraum to their 10th straight PSAL city championship, 85-47, over Manhattan Center at Madison Square Garden, she prefaced her post-game press conference comments to reporters by saying, “I’m shy.”
Williams is not showing any nerves recently, however. The talented junior guard, who commutes to Bergtraum’s Lower East Side campus from Jamaica, averaged 11.7 points per game this year along with three rebounds and three assists.
Williams, the 5-foot-7 guard, credits Epiphanny Prince, the former Blazers’ star who once scored 113 points to set the girls national prep record and is now at Rutgers. Prince was a senior when Williams entered Bergtraum, and pushed her to be aggressive. Every time Williams passed on a shot, Prince advised her to shoot or drive to the basket.
“She taught me a lot,” Williams said. “She said don’t be afraid.”
The two still talk on the phone or online, Williams said. When undefeated Bergtraum (23-0), ranked second in the nation by USA Today, played in the Primetime Shootout at Rutgers University, Prince told Williams “to keep shooting and be aggressive.”
Senior Krystal Parnell has made sure Williams does not fall off. The two have pep talks before each game.
“I know her shot’s been terrific this year,” Parnell said. “I give her confidence.”
Williams is the one who will have to take charge next year. She will be a senior, in the role of Prince and Parnell. She has to be the one encouraging others.
“I’m looking forward to that,” she said.