Tonight, the National Alliance of African American Athletes will name the 21st winner of the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award.
The award, which will be handed out at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, is given to the nation's top African American male high school scholar athlete.
The six finalists, announced in December, are USC signee Zach Banner of Tacoma, Wash.; Alexander Carter of Ashburn, Va.; Jonathan Curry of Phenix City, Ala.; Keith Marshall of Raleigh, N.C.; Orange Lutheran's Deion Williams; and Jameis Winston of Birmingham, Ala.
The finalists were chosen based on their grade-point average, personal statement, extracurricular activities, community service and letters of recommendation.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle were among the alumni at the Watkins Awards Reception in Downtown Los Angeles on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Williams is just pleased he's being mentioned for the award.
"I'm just Deion. I didn't even know that I was even being considered but once it really set in, I was overjoyed and I thank God for the opportunity," said Williams. "The fact that I'm even considered is very humbling and I think it really shows all of the work that I've put in."
Former Orange Lutheran head coach Jim Kunau is just as humbled to have a pupil up for a prestigious award that many have called the Heisman Trophy of high school football.
"It's a much bigger thing than the Heisman Trophy because with the Heisman Trophy, you're talking about the best player among 120 universities in the United States," Kunau said. "With the Watkins Award, I think they're over 10,000 high schools in the United States. So to be considered for that award is the Heisman Trophy times 20. To be one of the six finalists, I'm sure I'll never know anyone like that again."
The Watkins Award has been given every year since 1992.
