Jason David Williams was born September 10, 1981, in Plainfield, New Jersey — a city of stark racial and economic divides. His father, David, worked in management information systems for American Express. His mother, Althea, was a guidance counselor who would earn a second master’s degree while working full-time as assistant principal at North Plainfield High. Jay was their only biological child. Strict household. Education first. You never quit something you committed to.
But the Williams family expanded unexpectedly. Althea was counseling a girl named Jackie Taylor, whose mother had died of cancer. David and Althea brought Jackie home. Never officially adopted her, but raised her, put her through school. ‘They’re mom and dad,’ Taylor said. Jay had a sister.
In fourth grade, David and Althea put up a hoop in the backyard. They had to make Jay come inside at night because of the snow. By fifth grade he’d taken the coach’s son’s job at point guard. He tried everything — karate, volleyball, soccer, baseball, tennis, swimming, chess. He was the state volleyball player of the year as a senior. But basketball consumed him.
At St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, he started all four varsity years. School records: 1,977 points, 407 steals. Senior stats: 19 PPG, 7.0 APG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 SPG. New Jersey Player of the Year. Parade and USA Today All-American. McDonald’s All-American (20 points in the game). Morgan Wootten Award. 3.6 GPA. David and Althea rarely missed a game despite international travel schedules. Althea started the first girls’ cheerleading squad at the all-boys school. His coach, Mark Taylor: ‘They’re a special family.’