Jalen Williams’ career is definitely at a high point right now in 2025. Not only did his team secure the long-awaited title, but he also majorly contributed in steering the ship– a 40-point performance in Game 5 that ensured a 3-2 lead was one of them. However, things weren’t always so rosy for the Denver-born forward. No, in fact, if you saw him as the 5’10’ teenager he was in high school, you wouldn’t think he ever had a chance of making it to the NBA.

But after a growth spurt and a successful college career, that gap between the aspiring NBA player and the OKC Thunder sensation is a distant blur So, let’s learn a little about it today. No, not the growth spurts, let’s talk Jalen Williams’ college career at Santa Clara.

Which college did Jalen Williams attend?

In 2017, Hofstra University offered Jalen Williams a scholarship. His performance in the summer tournament, “Rumble in the Bronx,” was why. Soon, Nevada’s Santa Clara and Santa Barbara also followed suit in offering him scholarships. But he took things slow.

It was only after he was named as a three-star prospect in November 2018 and became the 242nd-ranked recruit in his class that Jalen Williams committed to Santa Clara. Why didn’t he receive offers from bigger schools? His high school coach, Sam Duane, wonders the same thing to this day.

“For whatever reason, he flew under the radar. A lot of people missed him. But he knew he was good. And he always played with a chip on his shoulder, wanting to show people that he was good,” said Duane. And with the benefit of hindsight in 2025, let’s just say — mission accomplished!

Actually, that mission was successfully completed at the end of his tenure at Santa Clara. Don’t believe us? Here’s his stats for you.

Jalen Williams NCAA stats

Despite his immense potential, Jalen Williams didn’t hit the ground running as a scorer when he arrived at Santa Clara. Instead, he built a reputation as a tenacious defender who could get the ball off anyone, averaging only 7.7 points per game as a freshman.

But in his sophomore year, he was able to improve drastically, with nearly all his numbers going up.

And as you can see, by his final year, Jalen Williams had ascended. He had ascended into another echelon as a player and had vindicated his coach’s belief in him. And rather unsurprisingly, he declared for the NBA Draft after his junior year. He forewent his final year of college eligibility and hasn’t looked back since.

But these stats won’t show you the full picture. Jalen Williams achieved a lot during his 3 years at Santa Clara. And it started in his freshman year despite his struggles on the offensive end of the court.

Jalen Williams College Career

Jalen Williams walked onto campus and, you see, his defensive hustles instantly turned heads. Soon, he made his way onto Santa Clara’s all-time steals list. He earned that starting spot before many had even caught their breath. It wasn’t long before coaches and teammates were talking about his relentless motor and fierce competitiveness.

Now, moving into year two, Williams became the Broncos’ go‑to guy in key moments—consistency was his calling card. He earned Second Team All‑WCC buzz and, in front of packed arenas during the conference tournament, he showed up when it mattered most by hauling in his first career double‑double. You could tell he thrived on the big stage.

All in all, junior season felt like the payoff. Williams snagged First Team All‑WCC honors and Second Team NABC All‑District accolades, plus he was a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, celebrating the nation’s top mid‑major talent. He also cracked the 1,000‑point club, and by the end of March, he declared for the NBA Draft.

Fast forward to 2025, and Jalen Williams has shattered even the high expectations everyone had of him heading out of Santa Clara. His heroics for the Oklahoma City Thunder had a Celtics legend comparing him to superheroes. And with him and his team getting the chip this year, that’s exactly what he will be to the residents of Oklahoma City!