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By John Kopp 

Youth is what the Summer League is all about, but the 76ers leading scorer,
Louis Williams, has a wealth of experience under his belt compared to his
teammates.

Despite being just 20-years-old, Williams, who is younger than most of his
teammates, is playing in the Summer League for the third time.

Thus, Sixers Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Tony DiLeo was
not surprised that Williams has emerged as the team’s top threat. The point
guard has averaged 24.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in the Sixers
first three games.

“When we drafted Louis Williams we thought that in two years he would be
this type of player,” DiLeo said in a conference call Tuesday.“We like his
progression and we think he can be a good point guard in the league. …
I think he’s right on course.”

Williams hasn’t been the only Sixer to impress. Each of the team’s four
draft picks - Thaddeus Young, Jason Smith, Derrick Byars and Herbert Hill -
are getting their feet wet while playing with youngsters Louis Amundson,
Bobby Jones and Rodney Carney. 

Young, the Sixers first selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, has averaged 10.3
points and 5.3 boards per game. His best performance came against Golden
State, when he recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

“I think he’s getting more confident,” DiLeo said of Young. “He’s
learning the pro game. It’s a lot more physical than it was in college,
but you can see his confidence level going up and becoming more comfortable
on the court.”

Smith, a 7-foot rookie center, has averaged 7.0 points and 7.7 rebounds
including a double-double against Golden State in three games, all starts.
DiLeo said the Sixers have been impressed by his shooting abilities. 

“Anytime that you have a big guy that can hit an outside shot, that’s a
 bonus,” DiLeo said. “Each game he’ll get better and better. He’ll feel
more comfortable out there and will learn different sets and techniques
that our coaches are teaching him.”

DiLeo stressed patience, saying it will take some time for the rookies to
adjust.

“It’s going to take a while for them to find a way, to get some confidence
and to learn,” DiLeo said. “They're going up against players that have been
in the league one, two or maybe three years, so it's a little difficult.”

While the draft picks have garnered much of the limelight, DiLeo was
particularly impressed with the play of Amundson, who has averaged 8.3 points
and 6.7 rebounds despite suffering a mild set back due to a left ankle sprain.

“The team needs a player like Louis Amundson,” DiLeo said. “He’s just
relentless. He’s all out hustle, goes after every rebound, he’ll take
charges, dive on the floor and I think it’s something we want to have on
our team. We want to be an aggressive defensive team. We want to improve
our rebounding.”

The Sixers wrap up their Las Vegas Summer League games on July 11 and will
then travel to Salt Lake City to participate in the 2007 Rocky Mountain Revue
from July 13-20.