There was probably no one in the building happier and more thankful than Tavariyuan Williams.
The senior forward enjoyed senior night Friday at De La Salle with an army of family members — far too many for him to count. And all of whom have learned that every day is a celebration.
On Nov. 6, 2022, Williams and two of his brothers were shot in front of their home by someone Williams said he had never seen before. All three survived. Williams was shot in the left lung.
“I was lying in the bed not knowing my next move really,” said Williams, who spent anxious days in the hospital wondering if he would live and whether he would ever play basketball again. “It was very scary the first couple of nights. They were trying to figure out what was going on.
“But I’m here.”
He’s definitely here — and he’s playing well. Williams scored 20 points and made six 3-pointers as the Meteors rolled to a 73-55 nonconference victory over Marian Catholic in Chicago.
Richard Linsdey led De La Salle (20-11) with 24 points. Zack Sharkey paced Marian Catholic (20-10) with 19 points, while Jonah Weathers added 16 and James Bullock Jr. had 10.
Williams capped off a great night by hitting a 3-pointer in the closing minute right in front of his family and friends. He pointed at them as he ran back to the other end of the court.
“That was the best,” Williams said. “I look forward to times like this. This is unimaginable. I just can’t believe I’m here. I have the biggest support system. It feels great.”
What didn’t feel great were those weeks in the hospital. He was in pain. And his teammates were worried.
“I was scared for him,” Lindsey said. “He’s been a friend since seventh grade. Man, we had a lot of memories together. I believe he bounced back well. He’s taken his blessing and he’s thriving.”
The bullet went through Willams’ back and his lung. But somehow, he was able to recover and return in late December for the Big Dipper Tournament.
How did that happen?
“God,” Williams said. “It was all God.’’
De La Salle coach Gary DeCesare was happy to have Williams back on the court while knowing his player was gutting it out.
“He wasn’t himself last year,” DeCesare said of Williams. “He came back and was out of shape, and I had him riding a bicycle every day. He rode the bike 45 minutes to catch his stamina.”
This winter, Williams is having a big season as the top scorer and rebounder for the Meteors.
“He’s just a great athlete,” Lindsey said of Williams. “He knows his own strengths and he knows how to use them at will. He can get to the basket. He can shoot.
“He’s a great teammate. He gets everybody involved.”
Six of De La Salle’s 11 losses have come against out-of-state teams. DeCesare has a habit of stacking up his schedule with national competition and road trips.
“Never did we disband,” Lindsey said. “We never thought those setbacks and losses were a detriment to the team.
“We looks back on them and watched film, and when we would get back home, we would practice and work on it.”
There were some wins, and there was some fun.
“Oh, yes,” Lindsey said. “Especially going to Florida in late December.”
Even with a late push, the 6-foot-5 Williams’ future in basketball is still fluid.
DeCesare said Williams and some of his teammates should be betting better college looks.
“Call me crazy, but I think these college coaches are missing the boat with these kids,” DeCesare said. “There is no doubt in my mind that they are Division I players.
“I watch a lot of college basketball, and they could play on half the teams I’m watching.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
