By Ian Smith, CycloneFanatic.com Contributor
It’s been nearly seven months since Brynn Williamson first visited Hilton Coliseum.
The 17-year-old is still in awe.
“It was awesome,” Williamson said. “I’ve been to a lot of girls’ basketball games before, especially living in Kansas City with the Big 12 (Tournament) being here. There were so many fans (at Hilton). I’ve never seen a women’s basketball game that packed. It was crazy. There was so much red.”
Williamson will be back inside Hilton often, but instead of being in the stands, she’ll be on the court. She verbally committed to the Cyclones in late July. Give an assist to the 12,015 Cyclone fans who watched Iowa State beat Kansas State, 48-39, on Feb. 27. The Kansas City, Mo., native picked the Cyclones over scholarship offers from Kansas, Missouri State and Creighton.
Williamson will get another up-close look this weekend when she comes to Ames on her official visit.
“The fan support was one of the main reasons (I committed),” Williamson said.
There are plenty of reasons Iowa State wanted her. Williamson averaged 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Staley High School last season. With a 6-foot frame, she adds size at the guard position for the Cyclones.
“I’m a taller but smaller guard,” Williamson said. “My build is skinny and tall. Whatever they need me to do, I’ll work on it.”
Because of her height, Williamson is forced to play in the post for her high school team. But rest assured, she can shoot the basketball. On her AAU team, the Missouri Valley Blazers, Williamson is able to bounce out to her natural guard/small forward position.
Her upside is one reason Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly targeted her early on in the recruiting process. Williamson attended the Cyclones’ Elite Basketball Camp last June. She committed a month later.
“At first I was like, ‘OK, Iowa State, I’ve never heard of it,”’ Williamson said. “(Coach Fennelly) built a trust with me. Then meeting the other coaches, I loved them. I didn’t need to visit the school a bunch of times to like it and pick it. I went there and it felt right.”
The Cyclones run to the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 the past two seasons also attracted Williamson.
“The success of the program is really good,” she said. “That was another thing I looked at when I was picking the school. They’ve done so well lately. Even if anything bad would happen, I would still be on the team because I know the morals of team and that’s what I was looking for.”
On her visit, Williamson – who is tentatively planning on studying biology in college – is excited to explore Ames and get to know her future teammates.
You can bet she will also be impressed again by all the red she sees. Saturday’s football game against Northern Iowa is “Color It Cardinal Day.”
In other words, just another night at Hilton Coliseum.
