Texas A&M's Robert Williams to enter NBA Draft

Texas A&M sophomore forward Robert Williams is turning pro. Texas A&M sophomore forward Robert Williams is turning pro. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Texas A&M's Robert Williams to enter NBA Draft 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

LOS ANGELES - Texas A&M sophomore forward Robert Williams is turning pro.

Williams announced his decision to enter the NBA draft and bypass his final two seasons of eligibility after the seventh-seeded Aggies lost to third-seeded Michigan 99-72 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament Thursday night.

"It's something I've been dreaming about - the next step," said Williams, who scored 12 points and added six rebounds, three assists and three blocks in his final game with the Aggies.

Williams, 19 years old and listed at 6-10, will finish the semester at Texas A&M before pursuing his dream of playing in the NBA.

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"It's just a blessing," Williams said as he stood in a locker room in the bowels of the Staples Center, home to the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. "Every kid dreams of going pro in a sport they love.

"Just knowing I have a chance, an opportunity to receive that blessing is great."

Williams is a likely first-round selection in this summer's NBA draft.

Some projections have the athletic big man as a lottery pick.

"I hope so," he said. "I'm just trying to get that money."

GAME RECAP: Michigan leaves Texas A&M behind in Sweet 16 matchup

Williams could have entered the NBA draft after his freshman season, but he decided to return to Texas A&M and said he was pleased with that decision. The Aggies did not reach the NCAA Tournament last year.

"Even though we lost today and it didn't end the way we wanted it to, it was a great experience with my teammates," he said. "It was a blessing. It was fun. Trials and tribulations. All in all, it was just a great, great experience."

Williams, the SEC co-defensive player of the year, finishes his Aggies career with 153 blocks in two seasons. He had 33 rebounds in three games in the NCAA Tournament.

It's easy to see why Williams will be drafted. A gifted athlete, Williams had a highlight-reel block and finished a powerful alley-oop in the Sweet 16. He had four dunks, plus a layup and a jumper.

"He's been an NBA performer day in and day out," A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. "He came back to finish strong and do something special for this program and for this university, and he gave us everything he had at the end of the year, to put us in this position."

Billy Kennedy on sophomore Robert Williams declaring for the NBA Draft: ‘he came back to do something special ...’ pic.twitter.com/ZPiGXw8Fd3 — Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) March 23, 2018

There's still a high ceiling for Williams and plenty of room for improvement. His areas of focus going into the draft process will be "giving it my all every play" and "keeping my motor at 100 percent."

Williams' teammates have seen him raise his game to another level this season, elevating his draft stock in the process.

"He's matured and he's just become a greater athlete," said freshman guard T.J. Starks. "He's worked on his game and he's stepping out, he's developed a jumper now. He's a freak athlete. Rob gets better all-around. The NBA, they got something good now."

While his skills on the court have grown in two years at Texas A&M, Williams believes he's also matured as a person.

"I was a baby when I first stepped on campus," he said. "I just learned it's a time and place for everything. Business is business. Fun is fun. You've got to separate the two."

With his Aggies career in the rear view, a lot is about to change for the teenager from Oil City, La.

"A little nervous, a little excited," Williams said. "Just looking forward to what I'm coming into. It's a grown man league, but I feel like I'm ready for it."

Austin Laymance is a freelance writer.