Handling his bodily transformation could be easier for Jordan Williams than trying to get Maryland fans to understand why he decided to leave College Park.
Williams returned to Washington for the first time in three months on Tuesday, taking part in a pre-draft workout for the Wizards at Verizon Center.
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Conspicuously absent was the extra 18-20 pounds Williams carried when he was last in a Maryland uniform, averaging 16.9 points and 11.8 rebounds. In fact, the weight loss he’s undergone by cutting out fast food and increasing his workout regime started taking on a life of its own.
“I lost a little bit too much weight,” Williams said. “I was down to 245, 247. I had to gain a couple more pounds, but I’m definitely getting used to it.”
The change has given the 6-foot-9 Williams more confidence, versatility and bounce than he might’ve had, pushing around Oakland’s Keith Benson, who is an inch taller but 30 pounds lighter, on Tuesday. The two forwards, each undersized in their own ways, are vying to crack the first-round bubble in the NBA Draft on June 23.
Williams believes he can play right away — he thinks his rebounding skills would make him a good fit in Washington — but maintains he didn’t expect to be fighting for draft positioning back in March.
“I didn’t sign with an agent so I could come back to school, and I was just going to go workout, work hard to come back and play for Maryland,” Williams said. “That was my goal the whole time. What happened was I got my confidence built up, I felt myself making drastic changes right away, and I thought it was my time to go.”
Coach Gary Williams retired immediately afterward, but the younger Williams said the two decisions were independent. He hasn’t spoken to his former coach since.
“People think I just woke up one day and said I was going to leave, but it was a long process to really think about what I wanted to do,” Williams said. “To leave the fans that had embraced me so much and just leave the coaching staff, it was tough to do. But sometimes the tough decision is the best decision.”
Unlike getting himself in shape — where the results are clearly evident — that remains to be seen.
