Former Toronto Raptor Jerome Williams has a special connection to the Oregon Ducks.

Williams was the head coach for one season at Findlay Prep in 2013-14, a Las Vegas high school and the alma mater of a number of NBA players. The Pilots were headlined that year by future NBA first-round picks Kelly Oubre Jr. and Rashad Vaughn. Also on that team was a 6-foot-6 kid from Mississauga, Ont., by the name of Dillon Brooks.

Williams is thrilled to see Brooks lead the Ducks to the Final Four this weekend in Phoenix.

“We’ve been training [Brooks] a long time to get where he is today, which is a great opportunity for not only the Oregon Ducks, but for all of Canada,” said Williams, who spoke to TSN.ca to promote the West Park Healthcare Centre Tournament of Stars, a charity basketball tournament starting Friday March 31 in Toronto.

 “Dillon was one of those players when we were in high school that they didn’t fully see whether or not he was going to be able to have this type of illustrious college career,” Williams said. 

But he has.

Brooks was named the 2017 Pac-12 player of the year and a second team All-American. The junior forward is also projected to be a first-round pick on some NBA mock draft boards should he declare.

 “That’s where he wanted to be, that was his goal in life and I’m glad to see it come true,” Williams said.

But that’s not the only connection Williams has to the Final Four.

Gonzaga’s Nigel Williams-Goss also attended Findlay Prep. He graduated before Williams arrived, but that doesn’t stop him from rooting for Williams-Goss, too.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance and opportunity,” said Williams. “They’re in uncharted territory in terms of tournament play and I’m just pulling for both teams.”

Gonzaga is set to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks, while Oregon is taking on the North Carolina Tar Heels. The games can be seen Saturday night on TSN 3/4/5, starting at 6 p.m.

“I want Oregon and Gonzaga, those are my two teams that I want to see in the finals,” Williams said.

Brooks and Williams-Goss are following in the footsteps of a number of fellow Canadian hoopers to attend Findlay Prep, including Brampton’s Cory Joseph, Tristan Thompson and Anthony Bennett.

Brooks, and the rest of the Canadians playing at high levels would have grown up watching the Raptors of the early 2000s, which Williams says may have inspired them to get where they are today.

“These guys have been setting the stage, they’re coming from the era of the Vince Carters, the Antonio Davis’s, [Charles] Oakleys, all these guys that played on [those Raptors] team.”

Someone else who played on those Raptors teams? Jerome Williams. 

The West Park Healthcare Centre Tournament of Stars gets underway Friday night with a draft of celebrities and former NBA players, with action beginning Saturday. Notable attendees will be Williams, a number of other former Raptors including Charles Oakley, Alvin Williams, Morris Peterson, T.J. Ford, former Toronto Argonauts Damon Allen and Chad Owens, as well as TSN’s Jack Armstrong and Rod Black. Their website is https://wphcf.akaraisin.com/Common/Event/Home.aspx?seid=12818&mid=8