Priscilla Williams’ collegiate journey culminates at Jacksonville, where her resilience led to historic achievements, including becoming ASUN’s player of the year.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After six years, four schools and more than 100 games, the wild ride that has been Priscilla Williams’ collegiate basketball career is coming to an end.

“It’s my final stop and I feel like I found home,” Williams said.

While the 6-foot-2 guard wouldn’t change anything about her unpredictable path, finishing her journey at Jacksonville University certainly wasn’t on her radar as an 18-year-old.

Williams was a five-star recruit, a McDonald’s All-American and the No. 9 overall prospect in the Class of 2020, which included now-WNBA stars Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.

“I think my story has kind of built me into the person I am today,” Williams said. “I feel like God has placed me in certain positions and let me meet certain people, and it’s just helped me grow as a person on and off the court.”

“She’s been through a lot of things that you think would break a kid,” Jacksonville women’s basketball head coach Special Jennings said. “Her resilience is powerful, it’s impactful, and I’m just proud of that young lady.”

Williams spent her freshman year at Syracuse before a head injury ended her season and forced her to sit out the next year.

“It was really hard,” Williams said. “I had to find myself outside of basketball for a while, which was new for me. My whole life had always been basketball.”

Now a graduate student, Williams split the next two years between South Florida and Oregon before eventually arriving at Jacksonville mentally battered and bruised.

“Priscilla was in a space that I thought I could help her out of,” Jennings said. “She saw her career going one way and it was kind of going the opposite direction.”

Jennings helped restore that belief in Williams, who will now forever be remembered as a program-changing player for the Dolphins.

On Monday, Williams became the first player in JU history to be named ASUN player of the year, ranking first in rebounds in the conference and second in points scored. Williams has also produced 10 double-doubles this season and set a single-game school record with 44 points, all while leading Jacksonville to its first 20-win season since 2017.

“I definitely got my confidence back,” Williams said. “I fell in love with the game again, so that was a big thing for me.”

“That young lady is a unicorn,” Jennings said. “Even recruiting for the next class, you don’t replace Priscilla Williams. I’m just cherishing every moment that I have with her while she’s here.”

As the No. 2 seeds in the tournament, the duo hopes an ASUN championship will be one of those moments. It would be just the second in program history. 

Williams and two other players will have to sit out their quarterfinal game against either UNF or West Georgia after they were involved in an on-court scuffle in the final minutes of the River City Rumble on Friday.

The quarterfinal game is set for Thursday at 5 p.m. at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.