[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       TRIBUTE TO JASON WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL FERGUSON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 3, 2001

  Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Plainfield, 
New Jersey's own star, Jason Williams. Jason, who is an All-American 
basketball player for Duke University, lead his team in their 82-72 
NCAA National Championship victory over Arizona on Monday night, April 
2, 2001.
  All of Plainfield and New Jersey are proud of our hometown hero, 
Jason Williams. As a student athlete, he has shown tremendous 
leadership and dedication while playing at an incredible level--all 
while under the pressure of the national spotlight.
  The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils won the national title Monday night 
under the leadership of Jason Williams. The 6'2" point guard has been 
one of the Duke's biggest offensive weapons all season. After scoring 
16 points in the win over the University of Arizona Wildcats, the All-
American guard has scored 154 points in six tournament games (ninth of 
all-time). A pass from Williams enabled Shane Battier to score a slam-
dunk, making the score 77-72 with 2:31 left on the clock. Then Williams 
clinched the Blue Devils' victory with a 3 point shot with 1:45 left, 
giving the Blue Devils an eight-point lead.
  Williams has been a leader all season long in the Atlantic Coast 
Conference (ACC), registering 21 points and 6.3 assists a game and 
earning the All-ACC First Team nod as well as the East Regional's Most 
Outstanding Player. Williams spent this past summer helping to train 
the U.S. Olympic basketball team as a member of the U.S. Select Team 
that scrimmaged against the Dream Team.
  As a graduate of St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen, New Jersey, 
Williams lettered in basketball all four years. Among the awards he 
won: the Morgan Wooten Award given annually to the nation's top prep 
school player, first team All-America selection as a high school senior 
by USA Today, Street & Smith, and Hoop Scoop, two-time all-state 
selection, first team all-county, all-area, and all-Parochial accolades 
during his career. As a two-time team captain, he set school records 
for most points scored in one game with 43 and the most total points 
with 1,993 high school career points, averaging 24.0 points, 8.0 
assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.0 steals.
  I commend Jason Williams for his leadership and congratulate the Blue 
Devils on their victory.

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