CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content
We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Stanford SR G Kiana Williams. She was a McDonald’s All-American in 2017, won a silver medal at the Pan Am Games in 2019, and was Honorable Mention All-American in 2020. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Kiana about making a game-winning 40-footer last February and her goals for this year.
In 2017 you were named a McDonald’s All-American: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Rennia Davis/Dana Evans/Michaela Onyenwere/other)? I am a little biased so I will keep the love in the Pac-12 and say Michaela, as I have played against her the most during the past three years. We also played together for team USA at the Pan Am Games last year: it was nice being her teammate for once. Davis/Evans both have had some great years at their own programs as well.
You play for Coach Tara VanDerveer at Stanford: what makes her such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? Tara has many great qualities as a coach and it has been a blessing to play for one of the best to ever coach. Her wisdom, experience, and love for her players are just a few of the things that make her a great coach. Although I am a senior I am still learning a lot from Tara: just with our little conversations in between drills or before and after practice. Whenever we talk I feel like I learn something new…and not just basketball-related. She has so much knowledge about basketball that I want to soak up as much as I can this last year!
In the 2019 Pan Am Games gold medal game you scored 6 PTS for team USA in a 6-PT loss to Brazil: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a silver medal? I accomplished one of my many goals by having the opportunity to represent my country and wear those three letters across my chest. Peru was a great experience with amazing people: I created memories that I will have forever. It was heartbreaking to not win the gold medal for our country but that is now one of my new goals: to win a gold medal while wearing “USA” on my chest.
Last February you scored a career-high 29 PTS in a 3-PT win at Colorado that included a game-tying 3-PT shot/STL/game-winning 40-footer at the buzzer (www.youtube.com/watch?v=truylPDCh9o): where does that game/performance rank among the highlights of your career? What a game! I would rank that as my best college game…thus far: I say “thus far” because I do not want that game to be my best college game ever. This year I plan to push myself to another level and I want my coaches/teammates to push me as well so that we can have a successful season.
Last season you were named Honorable Mention All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was humbling to be named Honorable Mention All-American, and this year I plan to take the next step by making First-Team.
In the Pac-12 tourney title game last March you scored 21 PTS in a loss to Oregon: where does 2020 national POY Sabrina Ionescu (20 PTS/12 AST) rank among the greatest college players that you have ever seen? Sabrina is one of the most skilled players I have ever played against: her ability to make others around her is something that stands out to me. I am not sure where I would rank her but she is for sure in the conversation with some of the greatest collegiate players ever.
The following week you learned that the NCAA tourney was canceled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news? I was heartbroken after I found out that the season was canceled, especially for our graduating seniors. I understood why it had to happen, but I wish that our seniors had the chance at one more tournament run.
Your 229 career 3PM is currently #5 in program history: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc, and do you think that you can break the school record this year? There really is not a secret formula to making shots. I think the hard work that I have put in the over the course of my career (and will continue to put in) allows me to have confidence in myself and gives confidence to my coaches and teammates. As a senior I just want to win: if the record happens then that would be great but it is not on my priority list for this final year. Records are meant to be broken…but no one can take a championship away from you!
What are your goals for this season? I have many goals for my last year wearing THE Stanford Cardinal jersey. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of such a well-respected program. This year I want to win the Pac-12 Championship and the NCAA Championship. The Final 4 is in my hometown of San Antonio so my goal is to finish my college career in my hometown on top with my teammates.