Lanard Williams, senior, has had a lot of surprises when it comes to basketball.

He was surprised when he made both varsity and junior varsity basketball as a sophomore. He was surprised when he got cut from both teams as a junior. He was surprised once more when he made varsity basketball his senior year.

“Last year I was angry, frustrated and very discouraged that I didn’t make the team,” Williams said.

Williams is a two-sport athlete, playing both football and basketball.

He played on the football team for three years but quit junior year to focus on basketball full time.

“I quit [football] junior year because I thought basketball would open up more doors for me scholarship wise,” Williams said. “I wanted to focus all my attention on it. It’s my passion.”

But after getting cut the third and final day of tryouts junior year, Williams said the decision to go back to football was an easy one.

“I felt that I was betrayed by the [basketball] team last year so I was done with it and went back to football. I feel like I missed out on a good experience.”

But Williams said he didn’t want to miss out on another chance to play varsity in the 2010-11 basketball season for many reasons.

“For one, because I love basketball. Two, because I didn’t want to leave high school without giving my all one last time for a sport I love,” Williams said.

To get in shape for this coming season’s tryouts Williams played AAU basketball.

Williams said his mind-set going into this season was a positive one.

“I put it into my head that there was no way I wasn’t going to give it my all at tryouts,” Williams said.

Varsity boys basketball coach Shane Matzen said he shaped this season’s team to do exactly that: give it their all.

“Lanard has a very team first attitude,” Matzen said. “[Our team] can’t have enough of those kinds of players.”

Williams and Zack Ploeger are the only two seniors on the team this year.

“Lanard has been working hard over the summer,” Ploeger said. “He’s basically gotten better overall.”

Williams plays forward and possesses a great team-first attitude.

“Leadership and energy, plus the ability to contribute to our team’s winning every game makes him a valuable player,” Ploeger said.

Williams said he hopes to have a fantastic season.

“Our team goal this year is to win, flat out. But my individual goal is to win and go ham on the court whenever I get a chance,” Williams said.