Back in the 1970s, the R&B-Funk group The Ohio Players topped the music charts.

Now in 2012, Oakland County has its own Ohio Player in former Birmingham Detroit Country Day basketball stat Amir Williams, who just finished a solid freshman season in the Big 10 at The Ohio State University, as a valued reserve on the Buckeyes Final Four squad.

Williams, a long and limber 6-11 center came off the bench to average two points and two rebounds a game in backing up OSU star big fella Jared Sullinger. In the Buckeyes win over Syracuse last weekend in a regional final to advance to the Final Four in New Orleans, Williams registered three points, four rebounds and two blocks while putting in 10 quality minutes for OSU head coach Thad Matta and his staff.

Coming out of high school last spring, he was ranked the No. 4 center in the entire country according to ESPN. Picked to participate in the prestigious McDonalds's All-American Game, Williams was a dominating presence on the blocks for DCD in his three years on the prep varsity hardwood, shooting a career 55 percent from the field and swatting away all shots that came anywhere close to his vicinity.

Leading the Yellowjackets to back-to-back appearances in the state semifinals, claiming an MHSAA Class B state title in 2010 as a junior, he averaged a double-double for his high school career. When he was a senior, he averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per outing. As a junior, he posted 15 points, 10 boards and 3.5 blocks a night.

I predict next year, with lots of minutes set to open up due to graduation and NBA defections, Williams will have a breakout campaign in the paint for the Scarlett and Grey, a squad sure to be one of the nation's very best again. His upside is OFF THE CHARTS. Despite his prodigious stat output as a prepster, he is still very raw. He has a super soft touch around the hoop and a fast-improving set of post moves. This kid's wingspan makes you think of Wilt the Stilt and his God-given athleticism will make the sky the limit for his potential with BUCKEYESNATION.