WASHINGTON (March 5, 2020) – The success of Charles "CJ" Williams for the Howard University men's basketball team has been well documented over the past four years.
 
The 6-6 senior guard from Richmond, Va., came to the Hilltop four years ago after not being heavily recruited and was projected to be an addition to a team that featured five starting veterans, including James "J-Bird" Daniel, the nation's leading scorer from the previous season.

The Bison, however, were hit with rash injuries and CJ stepped in and quickly emerged enough that he was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Year.
 
From there, the talented guard began to further establish himself as one of the premier scoring guards in the country, racking up the points and accolades along the way.
 
As a result, the sharpshooter with the quick release and deadly three-point shot, became the focus of the opponents' various defenses geared to stop or contain him.
 
Then in September at the start of his junior season, CJ faced a challenge that was much bigger than gimmick defenses or scheme to thwart his play: His mother, Michelle Watts and one of his biggest fans, was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.
 
"When I found out, it hit me hard," recalls Williams. "All of a sudden, basketball and all the success that it brought me, seemed to be much less important. I began to look at life differently. It made realize how vulnerable life can be."
 
Michelle reflects on the situation and the approach she employed to help CJ deal with the news.
 
"After the first reaction of the emotions that you go through when you learn what you are facing, I wanted to make sure that he fully understood what was going on," she said.  "There was no panic. I did not want it to affect his academic and basketball responsibilities. I also let the coaches know what was going on so that they would be understanding and sensitive to the situation."
 
CJ says that because of the things he had been taught from Michelle and his father, Charles Williams, Sr., it made it easier for him to weather the storm.
 
Michelle began the process of treatment that started with chemotherapy, followed by a mastectomy and finally and radiation.
 
"The hardest part was when I was not able to make his games," says Michelle, who regularly drove up from Richmond to attend home games as well as several games on the road. "I think by him not having me there to see the changes helped him concentrate on basketball and his studies."
 
For Williams, it was a humbling experience.  "When I would come home, it would be very hard to see her losing weight, her skin color changing and her losing her hair.  But through it all, she showed so much strength and that was the key."
 
Now with her treatment complete, Michelle is proud to announce that she is cancer free. She is back to attending CJ's games and was especially excited to be at the Burr Thursday when he was honored on Senior Night.
 
"There was a lot of emotions going on inside me," she says. "I thought about how quickly the four years have passed. I thought about how he has grown and matured as a result of this whole process at Howard University. But mostly, I thought about how proud I am of him and how he has handled this life experience."
 
Recently, CJ entered his name in the MEAC and Howard University history books. Against NC A&T on February 22, he became the all-time leading scorer in conference history with 2,282 points (previous record of 2,275 points by Tom Davis of Delaware State (1987-91), and he followed up on Monday by becoming the all-time scorer in MEAC history, men or women, with 2,322 points. It breaks the record of 2,310 set by fellow alum, Saadia Doyle, who accomplished the feat 2009-13.
 
"The truth is that I knew there was a possibility that the record was in reach before the start of the season, but I did not focus on it until before the A&T game. Before the game, my mother and father told me to just relax and it would come. It is a great honor to know that you are an all-time achiever."
 
On the season, CJ is currently third in the league in scoring at 18 points per game and made MEAC All-Conference Second Team. He will leave Howard University as the all-time leading three-point shooter and several other categories as well.
 
As for playing his last game at Burr, he reflects, carefully gathering his thoughts. "There are a lot of great memories there. The atmosphere, the players that I have played with and against, the coaches, the support staff, the professors and advisors, and all the relationships that I have formed, will all go through my mind. It has been a great ride and I would not trade it for anything."
 
As for his future, CJ is scheduled to graduate in May and plans to pursue a career in health management which would ultimately end up as CEO of a health facility.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.