By Michael West, Contributing Writer
When Jade Williams moved to the San Diego area from Kansas City, Missouri, she arrived as a prominent Point Guard in Girl’s Basketball circles. Having promoted her basketball exploits on TikTok and Instagram as a freshman, the blond dreadlocked phenom was practically a high school icon.
Williams burst onto the social media scene when she posted a video that went viral in 2016. A simple but dazzling rendition of Allen Iverson’s legendary crossover move awed several thousand folks, and she continued posting, as she grew in popularity.
Showing she had plenty of substance to match her style, the talented Junior brought her talents to La Jolla Country Day High School- and helped the Torreys post a 25-3 record in the 2021-2022 year- averaging 11 points per game. She followed that campaign up in 22′-23′ averaging 13 points per game, leading the Torreys to a 29-4 record, and once again a number four ranking in California.
The remarkable aspect of Williams’ rise? She elevated girls’ high school basketball and ventured into the Name, Likeness, and Image industry (NIL) just when it emerged as a revenue source for all high school athletes. In addition, the dazzling Point Guard earned massive attention as a college basketball prospect.
Recruiting Service | Rating |
On3 | 5 STAR |
ESPN | 4 STAR |
The ESPN four-star and On3 five-star recruit initially committed to UCLA, however, she decided to play for Arizona alongside fellow Torreys’ star Breya Cunningham, and both became the fourth and fifth La Jolla Country Day players to earn McDonald’s All-American status.
In her 2023-2024 debut in college, Williams earned All-Freshman PAC12 honors as a Point Guard – averaging 9 points per game. She started 24 of the Wildcats’ 28 games and led the team in scoring five times, including their first-round game in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.
And Her NIL presence? With 688,000 followers on Instagram and 144,000 followers on TikTok, Williams has signed deals with Spaulding, Gym Shark, and Dick’s Sporting Goods at an estimated value of $550,000. She’s even been in a commercial with NBA Superstar Damian Lillard.
Williams is leaving a lasting impact on the women’s basketball scene.
Check out some highlights of her talents below courtesy of Women Hooping on YouTube.