By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

POPLARVILLE — Former Gulfport High multi-sport standout Nico Williams is headed to the next level.

Williams, the starting centerfielder for Juco National Champion Pearl River Community College this season, recently signed a scholarship with Jacksonville State University.

In his second season at The River, Williams helped lead to not only their third consecutive MACCC Championship but their second NJCAA Division II title in five years.

He put together a solid season roaming the outfield, as he finished the year with a .331 batting average, .401 on-base percentage and a .644 slugging percentage. He also cracked 12 home runs, nine doubles and three triples and he drove in 42 runs and scored 40 times.

Williams also saw some time on the hill for PRCC, as he pitched in five games. He was named Second Team All-MACCC.

All of this came on the heels of his freshman campaign, in which he came on strong as the season progressed and eventually became the every day centerfielder. He helped guide PRCC to an MACCC Championship, a Region 23 title and an NJCAA World Series Runner-up finish.

At Gulfport High, Williams was a two-sport standout as in addition to his prowess on the diamond, he was also the starting quarterback on the Admirals football team.

He recorded 2,182 passing yards and 18 touchdowns through the air as a senior, and he also rushed for 440 yards and eight touchdowns. He originally signed a football scholarship with Southeastern Louisiana University.

In baseball, he earned Class 7A All-State honors as well to wrap up his prep career.

At Jacksonville State, he’ll be directed by yet another former “Southern Six” standout in Travis Creel of Ocean Springs. Creel, who led the Greyhounds to the 2008 state baseball championship, was named the Gamecocks head coach earlier this week.

He comes to Jax State after serving seven seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Miss, where he also was a standout player after his prep days.

In addition, Nico Williams brother is also on the Jax State staff. Cam Williams serves as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Gamecocks.