Courtesy BYU Photo

The first basket of the BYU men’s basketball Blue-White Game on Wednesday at the Marriott Center was a “freshman to freshman” connection that Cougar fans hope they will see for the next four years and into the Big 12: Former Fremont star and state MVP Dallin Hall from former Wasatch Academy standout Richie Saunders for a fast break layup.

Cougar fans also got their first look at the point guard of the present in Coastal Carolina transfer Rudi Williams.

BYU will count on the 6-foot-2 Williams not only to run the offense — he refers to himself as “the quarterback” — but as a leader because of the graduation of Alex Barcello.

“So I’ve been super pleased with a bunch of guys,” Cougar coach Mark Pope said. “Rudi Williams is brand new here, and he’s got a real instinctual leadership ability, right? He’s got a charisma about him. He’s got a joy about the game. He’s got an intensity and kind of a veteran feel about him. He’s been through the wars and logged a ton of minutes. And so his personality is really special for us.”

Williams said his introduction to life as a BYU basketball player this summer included a couple of rough weeks in conditioning drills by trainer Erick Schork.

Courtesy BYU Photo

“The adjustments have been pretty fine so far,” Williams said. “The first couple of weeks when I got here, it was kind of just learning what I’ve missed in the summertime because I wasn’t with the team. But I’d say ever since, I kind of started figuring things out. It’s been smooth sailing with the team and there is chemistry there. We have a good relationship with the coaches. Coach Pope, he’s in my ear more than anybody else. And now it’s been fine. I’m loving it. The basketball has been going good practices have been really intense for playing hard. We’re playing really fast. And it’s it’s been fun.”

Pope said Williams’ leadership qualities are easily recognized.

“You’re not going to have to know him for very long to feel that from him,” Pope said. “He’s got a confidence but he’s also logged some failures. And I think when you log some failures, you start to realize that if I fail, I’m gonna wake up tomorrow morning, and nothing’s going to be different. I’m gonna do the same thing. I’m going to get back to work and work hard and you’re not scared of it anymore. He doesn’t have a lot of fear right now.

“He knows exactly why he’s here. He chose us. He was a heavily recruited guy, and he knew exactly what he was looking for. I think he feels the faith that his teammates have in him and I think that brings confidence to him. I also think he’s innately got a charisma, and a swag that just is attractive to people.”

At a recent corporate sponsor event, Williams told the crowd he has a feel for when the lights come on.

Courtesy BYU Photo

“There are some guys that when the lights come on, they’re like, ‘Yes, this is my moment,'” Pope said. “I feel like he lives there a little bit. And he’s also a terrific basketball player. I mean, he’s a career 40-plus three point shooter. He’s done that for a long time. He’s a really, really physical player.

“I love point guards that are convinced that they know more about the game than I do. And he certainly would tell you that that’s the case and so he’s bringing a lot to the table.”

White hands Blue 78-65 setback

The White team was comprised of the likely starters in Game 1: Williams, Gideon George, Noah Waterman, Trey Stewart and Fousseyni Traore. The White fell behind early but took control midway through the first half and led by as many as 18 points.

Williams was assessed three technical fouls in the first half of the Blue and White game: Two for flopping and one for saying something to the official after not getting a foul call on a drive.

Williams responded by lighting things up when he came back in at the 4:18 mark. He scored 12 points — including back-to-back 3-pointers — and finished the first half with 15.

The White led 54-37 at the break and the clock ran without stoppage in the second half.

Other highlights included a sequence where George blocked consecutive shots at the rim by Spencer Johnson and Hall; a rare 3-pointer from 6-9 sophomore Atiki Ally Atiki, a lob for a dunk from Waterman to Traore and six first half fouls for Ally Atiki.

Williams led the White team with 19 points and George had 18 points and eight rebounds. Traore was also in double figures with 15 points and Waterman added eight.

Jaxson Robinson led the Blue squad with 16 points, Hall had 12 point and eight boards and Ally Atiki scored 11 with 11 rebounds.

The two teams struggled from the 3-point line, combining to shoot 14 for 53 (26%).

The Cougars have on exhibition game against NAIA school Ottawa (Ariz.) next Wednesday and open the season at home against Idaho State on Nov. 7.

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