Q & A WITH LEYTON WILLIAMS

Q: Your dad has been the coach for a long time, so you have been around OHS basketball for essentially your entire life. But you also played with your brother growing up and he’s one of the leading scorers in school history. What was that like being the little brother? Did you ever get to the point where you could beat him?

“Not in one-on-one, but I’ve gotten him in a few three-point contests. I think it has always been fun to watch him (Brayden). It’s almost as fun, if not even more enjoyable, to watch him on the court then to actually be out there playing. He’s always been a great skills coach and he’s taught me a lot, especially throughout my high school  career.”

Q: How much has your relationship with Brayden evolved over the years?

“He’s almost like a trainer. He’s always helped me with my game. It’s never during a game or anything like that, but he’s always there to give little tops on moves, footwork, shooting and that type of stuff. Whenever I ask, he’s always willing to help.”

Q: And then you also have your dad as a great resource. I have to ask: What is it like being the son of the head coach?

“After games, usually he waits to see if I initiate something. After a tough loss or a bad game, he always waits to see if I want to talk about it before saying anything. And then, if not, I guess it’s pretty much silence. Most of the time I try to bring something up. I ask him about his opinion on how I played, what I could have done better, what I need to do next time, what I did well — that type of thing. And I guess we both like watching film, so we both go back and forth and talk about things I could have done in certain situations.“

Q: What’s the hardest part about playing for your dad? Anything?

“I don’t think there is anything that’s particularly hard. I do know it was initially a little difficult for my brother when he was brought up as a sophomore. But I haven’t really had any issues. It’s just nature. It’s unique.“

Q: You’re a senior now — has that hit you yet?

“I’ve thought about it for sure, especially after games you lose. Sometimes there is some regret knowing that (game) could be the last shot to beat that team; it could be the last time you ever play at that gym. Obviously with half our games at home, you still have that to look forward to, but the last ones are creeping up on us.”

Q: Speaking of home games. You are part of the group that snuck in and will be the first class to graduate from the new high school and play here (at Federated Gym). What is that like?

“I think it’s a great new opportunity. I do miss the old high school gym sometimes. It was just such an enclosed environment. The energy was always high, especially two years ago against Lakeville North (in the Section 1-AAAA semifinals). I just remember that place was super loud just from how tight the space was. But here we have the hype videos. The big screen is obviously really cool as well.”

Q: As a shooter, was there any adjustment you had to make in the new gym?

“The major thing was the backdrop. The distance of the wall and how far back it is from the hoop can throw you off. But it’s not too bad.“

Q: Pivoting a little and talking about this year’s team. It’s an interesting mix of athletes and your tallest player on the entire roster is maybe 6-4. You basically have four guards on the floor at all times. What is that like?

“On the games we are playing well and we’re playing fast and creating turnovers, it’s devastating (for the opponent) and really fun. But there are times when we can get bullied a little bit in the paint — that can be tough.”

Q: Is there anything you guys can do to counteract a team with good size?

“Athleticism and being in the right place at the right time.“

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PHOTOS BY AARON GUZMAN PHOTOGRAPHY