Salpointe senior versatile forward-guard Hannah Williams, a member of last year’s Class 4A state championship team, announced via social media Monday that she will attend Northern Arizona starting in 2025-26.
Williams, who is 6-foot, is approaching 1,000 points (presently at 691), 500 rebounds (now at 447) and already has more than 100 assists (110) and steals (118). She also has tallied 55 blocked shots in her career.
Williams will join former Catalina Foothills guard Reilly Clark, who will be a sophomore on coach Loree Payne’s team in 2024-25.
I’m happy to announce that I have decided to commit to NAU. Thank you to all of the coaching staff and the players that so kindly welcomed me into their family. I’m so blessed to have this opportunity and I can’t wait to enter into this new adventure in my life! pic.twitter.com/sJJbubuJxY
— Hannahwilliams1030 (@Hannahw1030) August 19, 2024
“I chose NAU for the environment and culture that Coach Payne and the rest of the coaching staff embraces,” Williams mentioned to AllSportsTucson.com. “While there are so many positive things about the campus and the academics, it really comes down to, when I close my eyes, where I could envision myself.
“I love basketball and I go to practice with a positive attitude and ready to compete. It was really important to me that my coaches and teammates have the same love and competitiveness for the game as well.”
Payne is 109-108 in her seven seasons in Flagstaff. In the last two seasons, NAU has compiled a 46-24 overall record and a 28-8 mark in the Big Sky.
“From the first practice I watched, I knew that getting to play for Coach Payne would be a great opportunity,” Williams stated. “I am so blessed to have this amazing experience and I cannot wait to embark on this new adventure!!”
Williams is one of five starters returning for Salpointe, which went 27-4 en route to the program’s second title in three years.
Williams, highly-touted Taliyah Henderson (a member of Canada’s U18 national team this summer), Sidney Anderson, Allison Even and Jordan Watts are starters from last season who all return. Top reserves Jayci Nelson, Aryanna Kollasch and Ava Dagnino also return for coach Joseph Luevano.
The Lancers will challenge for the Open Division championship this season.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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