IT might be the NBL off-season but Kerry Williams is knuckling down to work.

Williams loves playing in the Queensland Basketball League with the Cairns Marlins, the team with which he won a national title aged just 17.

And while he regards it as fun, there’s no doubt he’s working away, trying to raise his game to another level.

Now 21, Williams raised plenty of eyebrows in his NBL debut with the Taipans last year.

The dynamic point guard has the speed and skills to mix it with the best if he continues to fine tune his game.

He is already drawing comparisons with another young indigenous whiz, Patrick Mills, who has nominated for June’s NBA draft.

Signed as a development player, Williams averaged almost 18 minutes a game for the Taipans last season, as fellow guard Stephen Black’s back injury, then the axing of imports Larry Abney and Dave Thomas bulked up his time on court.

"It was good," Williams said of his debut season.

"The guys around me were good like Darnell (Mee) and Bobo (Aaron Grabau).

"When (former Marlins championship coach Mark) Beecroft stepped into the head coaching job he was good, I’ve played for him for a while now, so it was a lot easier for me."

The season gave Williams great exposure and immediate experience but he knows he needs to keep working if he is to make the same impact in his second season. "My jump shot, that’s one big thing I’ve got to work on, (shooting) off the dribble, just being accountable on offence – knocking down the open jump shot and scoring when I need to," he said.

"My first thing is to pass the ball for other guys … whereas now I’m trying to shoot the ball, shoot more threes and off the dribble and stuff."

Williams found success from long range against Mackay last Saturday night, knocking down five three-pointers and said while it was not his initial instinct, shooting more was becoming "second nature".

"It’s sort of locked into my brain now, so it’s a lot easier for me," he said.

"(I have to work on it) especially if I want to take my game to the next level."

Not knowing about the Taipans’ future and that of the NBL had made the past few months difficult but Williams was positive there was a place for him if the Snakes made the new league.

"It has been (difficult) because you’re not too sure what’s happening with the league and if we’re going to have jobs, so that’s a big thing," he said.

"I’m guessing (I’ll have a future at the Taipans), the young guys especially, I think we’ve got a spot because they want to bring the young locals in, that’s a big thing they want to do.

"I’ve just got to keep working on my game to make sure I stay at that same level."

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