Redshirt senior point guard, Dominique Williams, comes from a tough place to grow up in.

However, that did not dictate his path that eventually led him to play college basketball.

“I grew up in a community where a lot of people don’t make it out,” Williams said. “But I grew up in a community where I had a lot of support.”

Williams attended Curtis high school and during his career at Curtis he was elected to the 4A All-State basketball team. Once Williams graduated he attended Tacoma Community College (TCC) for two years before transferring to Central. He had other offers from GNAC schools and small Division I schools, but chose Central because some of his teammates from TCC had gone to Central.

Williams said that has helped the team on the court because of the amount of chemistry that they already share. His first year at TCC, Williams made first team All-Northwest Athletic Conference. While at TCC, he averaged 10 points per game.

Williams first started playing basketball at the age of four. He started to play at the Al Davies Boys and Girls Club in Tacoma where his mother, Sierra Raynor is the branch director. Williams best friend is fellow Curtis High School alumnus and current Pheonix Suns point guard Isaiah Thomas.

Thomas is also Williams idol; he took Williams under his wing from a young age and looked out for him. Williams said that Thomas is like a big brother to him, teaching him the subtleties of the game.

“He’s always been there,” Williams said. “Just to give me advice on the little things on what point guards need.”

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is also one of Williams favorite players, whom he watches when he’s not in the gym working on his game. Away from the court, Williams still likes to be near basketball. In his down time he plays NBA 2k15 while relaxing. Williams red-shirted his first year at Central. So far this season Williams has averaged 17.5 points per game.

To go along with that, Williams has already earned player of the week award with this season being his first with significant playing time.

Williams says that he is always looking to get better at basketball and is not satisified. Williams hopes to continue playing basketball after he graduates this year and become a professional basketball player. Another one of his goals is also to give back to the youth in his community.

“Where I come from not a lot of youth see people giving back,” Williams said.

Sierra Raynor, Williams mother, has preached giving back to both him and his siblings. Raynor says that when Williams comes back from break he will go into his closet and pick out shoes that he doesn’t wear anymore and donate them to the Boys and Girls Club.

When he was younger, Williams and Raynor would travel across the United States for William’s Ameteur Athletic Union (AAU) games.

Regardless of which team he was on the coaches always said the he had heart.

“He’s a small guy,” Raynor said. “But he just has so much heart. When he was younger the AAU coaches would always say he plays like he’s six foot three.”

Raynor adds that her son has always been independent, to which Williams himself agrees.

“Everthing I got, is from me grinding,” Williams said.

Men’s Head Basketball Coach, Greg Sparling said that Williams has had growth both on and off the court especially in the classroom.

“I think Dom’s really grown up in the past year,” Sparling said. “The red-shirt year was huge for him. It’s allowing him to be able to graduate on time, which is a huge plus. I think if you
would have asked Dom when he entered college if he would get a college degree, I’m not sure he would have thought he’d get one.”

Sparling said that Williams has made strides that will help him bring his game to the next level.

“On the offensive end he can shoot it from deep,” Sparling said. “But he can also penetrate and score.”