Enough cannot be said about Williams’ (*pictured) dominance when she is on the court. She is often unmatched offensively while overmatching opponents when she is defending the net. She remains the #1 ranked 2027 in Ohio while currently the #12 prospect nationally. As her team recently went unbeaten in the 17 National division at the OVR Bid tournament, expect them to compete very well on the national stage.

Williams (*pictured), ranked #12 in the Prep Dig 2027 national rankings, remains the top-ranked Ohio prospect in this class. She is an elite prospect with a high ceiling to her game as she closes in on her senior year and future opportunity at DI power Pitt. She led Gilmour Academy in 2025 with a career best 3.3 k/s average on a .430 efficiency and 57% kill rate.

There was a fun spark about this AVC 17Red team out of Cleveland where they have one of the top middle blockers in the country in  KJ Williams.  I knew I would see big blocks and electric swings from Williams, but I was so impressed with how connected to her teammates Williams was all weekend.  She celebrates big, she plays with a fire and intensity that is contagious where others reach another level.  The other side of the net has to be aware of her.  They are keying on her for every play.  Even when Williams isn’t getting the kill, she’s drawing attention, and she’s also making the other side second guess their shots.  What an impact player beyond the stat line. 

The future Pitt Panther will be an imposing presence at the Northern Lights Qualifier for her AVC 17 Red squad out of the Cleveland area.  Williams has spent time with the Youth National teams and with how physical and dynamic she is – the other side has to know where she is at all times.  She can get from pin to pin, she can attack off one foot and has the blend of speed and power that is at a different level.  She is the top prospect coming out of Ohio in the Class of 2027. 

Currently the top-ranked 2027 Prep Dig prospect in this Ohio class, Williams is getting better and better in her production and ability to command matches with her physicality and athleticism. She average 3.3 k/s in 2025 on a .430 efficiency while also contributing 2.3 b/m. A member of the USA 19U team representing the Ohio Valley Region, Williams is committed to national power Pitt.

Williams enters her junior season with a lot to gain in the high school space. Committed to one of the best college programs in the country in Pitt, the 6’4 versatile athlete made a statement during the club season. She should have Gilmour in the hunt for a deep postseason run in 2025 among DIII teams as she will be a major filler for the core of their offense they lost from last season. With 183 total kills last season, she will be a primary option for the Lancers and will likely grow those numbers with a lot of impact.

Williams remains the top prospect in our rankings list for 2027 and leads a very good crop of middles that, right now, is the most impressive position overall in this class. At this phase of her career she has such a promising future as she continues to develop into an even more dominating presence in the middle at the 16U level. Her length and athleticism alone are impressive but as this team is using her in more dynamic ways offensively that work often stretches a defense in how they defend and try to contain the various ways she attacks the ball.

Williams has the foundation to be a national-level top prospect and will certainly see the recruiting activity elevate as the new club season arrives. She was playing some of her best ball of the high school season in November as she had 18 kills on a 66% kill rate to help Gilmour Academy win the final match of the DIII state title chase. The scary thing is that she has room to grow and is certain to make even more significant gains with her time again competing for AVC’s top 16U squad.

The lone sophomore among this group making big impact, Williams is a huge asset with her length at 6’4 and her ability to defend and score at the net. She is the future of this program following the heavy graduation ahead among these core members, but she has the tools to help the Lancers stay very relevant and successful going forward, while also growing her own stock and positioning herself well for a great opportunity at the next level. Her provides nearly two kills per set while also sharing the team lead at 2.1 blocks per match.