PressBox recently chatted with Towson men’s basketball redshirt sophomore Dylan Williamson about buying into his development plan, teaming up with a longtime friend and more. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard averaged 10.1 points and 2.9 assists per game for the Tigers in 2023-24 en route to CAA All-Rookie Team honors. Williamson was born in Dallas but moved to Upper Marlboro, Md., early in life. He is a graduate of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
PressBox: How did you first become interested in basketball?
Dylan Williamson: I started playing basketball when I was 3 or 4 in Dallas. My dad had a mini basketball court in the back yard. Really, I played all sports, but mostly I would just go to the little mini-hoop.
PB: Who was the biggest influence on your game growing up?
DW: I would have to say Kyrie Irving. He’s still my favorite player to this day. I just love his game. I wouldn’t say we have similar games, but I try to move the same way he does.
PB: What memories do you have from your Good Counsel days?
DW: A lot of good memories. One huge memory is when I had 30 points in our Good Counsel tournament against Spalding [as a senior].
PB: Why did you choose to go to Towson?
DW: I chose Towson, one, because it was close to home, and two, the coaches just made us feel [at] home. … I came up here not really on an unofficial but just for a couple hours. It just gave me the right feeling.
PB: Why did you redshirt in 2022-23?
DW: It wasn’t injury-related. Not saying I wasn’t ready, but that year that I took off just got me prepared for my first season last year.
PB: How did your coaches get you to buy into the plan?
DW: I had a couple sit-downs with [head coach Pat Skerry]. I trust him. The conversations and just the process they told me it was going to be, I just trusted it and it’s been working out.
PB: What did you do during your redshirt year that allowed you to make the CAA All-Rookie Team in 2023-24?
DW: I was with [strength coach Amit Vohra] a lot. Just working on my body, getting exercise before games, after games, on the road. I was always the first on the court before the whole team got there. Just working out … and really getting prepared for when I’m able to play.
PB: What’s your favorite memory from your time at Towson so far?
DW: My favorite memory is probably when we played UNCW and I had the game-winning pass to Tyler Tejada, who made the game-winning three.
PB: Towson returns much of last year’s 20-win team. What does it say about your program that you were able to bring so many players back in the NIL and portal era?
DW: It just shows that the culture is strong here. A lot of guys believe in it, follow it. We’ve got three or four new guys and that’s about it. It just shows that the culture here is strong and a lot of guys believe in something.
PB: The Tigers have had a lot of winning seasons in recent years but haven’t been able to get over the hump in the CAA tournament. How do you stay focused on what’s in front of you rather than looking ahead to the postseason?
DW: I just feel like we all have the same mindset — taking it one game at a time and not looking forward to making it the championship or winning the semis, where we keep losing. I just feel like we’re all on the same page and that’s going to work well for us.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Towson?
DW: Really, I love everything. It’s close to home, good people, love my team, love my coaches. It’s just really a great environment here.
PB: Who is your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
DW: I’m cool with all of the guys, but one of my closest friends on the team would probably be Christian May. We’ve been playing together since seventh grade. We played AAU together. One memory that I have with him is throwing him a lob, inbounds play, in seventh or eighth grade. It was just crazy, him being able to dunk that young.
PB: What’s it been like to see May’s development and growth throughout the years?
DW: It’s been amazing. He used to be very, very skinny, so just seeing his body growth now, the ways he plays, his strength, his ability to shoot, get downhill, is just amazing to see.
PB: Who did you look up to early in your college career?
DW: Two guys I looked up to: Charles Thompson and Jason Gibson. I looked up to Jason because he was a point guard. That was my position. Skerry loved him. He played his role well. I looked up to Charles just because he was so vocal and a leader, and that’s what I aspire to be.
PB: What advice would you give to younger players?
DW: I would say work on your body, get in the weight room, especially if they’re in high school and just grind and work. The unseen hours are going to show on the court. Just keep grinding and working.
PB: What are your goals for after basketball, whenever it ends?
DW: My major is IT right now, so I’m looking to get a job in cybersecurity.
Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher
Issue 289: October/November 2024
Originally published Oct. 16, 2024