BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In a continuing effort to recognize the accomplishments of student-athletes beyond the court of competition, the SEC once again highlighted a Community Service Team for men’s basketball for the 2017-18 season.
Tennessee’s representative on this year’s SEC Community Service Team is sophomore Grant Williams.
A versatile forward from Charlotte, North Carolina, Williams has been a leader among UT student-athletes as it relates to community outreach efforts. Over the past year, he has taken part in several service projects, including the annual Hoops for Hope basketball event in west Knoxville that benefits the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee.
On Halloween, Williams participated in UTAD’s annual Voloween event and also visited patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital to distribute coloring books and other gifts to children who were unable to go trick-or-treating or consume candy because of health restrictions.
Williams’ selection as a member of this year’s prestigious VOLeaders Academy has enabled him to take part in numerous academy service projects, including working with UT’s visually impaired/blind enhanced services. His VOLeader status will keep him active in a variety of service projects lined up for this spring, highlighted by the group’s international service learning trip in the summer.
On the court, Williams is Tennessee’s top scorer (15.4 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (5.9 rpg) on the season. Despite being regularly double-teamed during SEC play, he ranks eighth in the league in shooting percentage (.468) and ninth in scoring (15.8 ppg).
His top performance this season was a career-high 37-point effort on 12-of-20 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, three blocks and a pair of assists in Tennessee’s win at Vanderbilt on Jan. 9, earning him SEC Player of the Week honors. It also marked the most points by a Vol since former All-American Ron Slay scored 38 vs. New Mexico on Jan. 4, 2003.
This marks the 20th year for the SEC Community Service Team for men’s basketball and women’s basketball. All 21 league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men’s and women’s sports being chosen from 1999-2003.
The SEC began this concept with a football Community Service Team in 1994.
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