Over the past few seasons, Division-I baseball has witnessed a growing trend of community college transfers joining big-time programs after spending a year or two refining their skills at the junior college level. N.C. State has not missed out on the national trend either, especially when it comes to finding elite junior college centerfielders.
Junior Brett Williams, a Pitt Community College transfer, has filled the large void in centerfield left by the graduation of Kyle Wilson, a Hill (Texas) Junior College transfer. Wilson played two seasons with the Wolfpack and finished his senior campaign with a team-high .368 batting average, seven home runs and 34 RBI, earning him a 2010 second-team All-ACC selection.
The departure of Wilson left big shoes to fill, but Williams has proved more than capable of stepping in without a drop-off. Through the Pack’s first 25 games, Williams has started 24 contests and sports a .313 average, third-best on the team. The New Bern native has also shown some pop in his bat as he is tied for the team lead in home runs (two) and extra base hits (nine).
While he has made the transition from junior college to Division-I look seamless, Williams admitted that getting accustomed to the speed of the game was the biggest change.
“The overall speed of the game was the hardest part to get used to,” Williams said. “The pitchers are throwing harder and they all have better stuff. Everybody’s a little bit bigger, faster and stronger, so the speed of the game has been the biggest transition.”
Williams dominated on the junior college level under coach Tommy Eason at Pitt CC. Having already signed to play for State in his sophomore season, Williams led the Bulldogs to a 43-13 record and a trip to the NJCAA World Series in 2010. Despite an early exit from the double-elimination World Series, Williams finished the year with an impressive .348 average with 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 45 RBI and 10 steals.
Needless to say, Williams has enjoyed his first season playing with the Pack and said playing in front of large crowds has been exciting, especially compared to the attendances for his junior college games.
“It’s been awesome,” Williams said. “There’s so much excitement and the level of competition is great. It’s fun to play in front of so many people every game.”
Williams has carried his five-tool skills over from Pitt CC and made it easier for fans to forget Wilson. Able to hit for power and average, as well as possessing speed and a good glove in centerfield, Williams is the epitome of a five-tool player, just as Wilson was a year ago.
Catcher Pratt Maynard, who played two seasons with Wilson, said Williams has the ability to contribute in every way possible.
“[Williams] can do it all,” Maynard said. “Hitting, base running, fielding; there’s not much he can’t do and will only get better the more he gets adjusted.”
Entering the series against Clemson this past weekend, Williams had recorded only four hits in 20 at-bats. But the junior appears as though he is getting adjusted to ACC pitching, going 4-10 at the plate, including a triple, double and two RBI in the Pack’s three-game series against the Tigers.
With the Wolfpack (14-11 overall, 3-6 ACC) struggling to replace the offensive voids left by Dallas and Drew Polk, Williams has done his job replacing Wilson’s production and the Pack can only hope his progression continues if it hopes to repeat last year’s run to the ACC title game.
