Isiah (Zeke) Willis, IIILassiter High School
Canton, Georgia
by Chris McGee
photography by SmaX Photography
Lassiter Senior Student Athlete Applies Competitiveness And Faith Foundation To Excel On The Field And In The Classroom
 |
 |
But as luminous a contributor as Willis is to the Trojans gridiron and track programs, he shines just as brightly in other venues, such as the classroom, the community and the church.
A 5’10”, 180-pound senior, Willis boasts a 4.26 grade-point average and an SAT score of 1870. His favorite subject is math, and he’s currently taking AP Calculus. Math has always come easy for Willis, fitting for an athlete accustomed to posting positive numbers on the playing field.
He is also actively engaged in school and academic organizations. He is a member of Lassiter’s DECA club (business/marketing), the National Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars. To trace the source of Willis’s academic prowess, one doesn’t have to go too far.
“I have a mom that doesn’t accept anything less than my full potential,” Willis says. “I don’t allow myself to ever slack off when it comes to my studies.”
Willis’s smarts translate well to the football field, where he is known as a versatile, speedy force who understands the mental aspects of the game.
“I’ve been told that I have a very strong football I.Q. thanks to my dad teaching me the game at an early age,” Willis says. “Having a great understanding of the game lends to my success on the field, as a player, as a teammate and as a leader. I also feel that I’m a very versatile player, capable of playing both running back and wide receiver.”
The Trojans are 7-2 on the season, and Willis is enjoying what he considers the best campaign of his high school football career. Even so, he is always looking to improve, working specifically on his speed through drills, such as running stadium steps and ladders.
“I always feel as though there’s room for improvement,” Willis says. “As they say, ‘speed kills!’”
One of Willis’s biggest admirers is Jep Irwin, Lassiter’s head football coach, who speaks in glowing terms about his player’s skills, smarts and positive attitude.
“His strengths are his versatility, agility and football instincts,” Irwin says. “He has been our most reliable and versatile skill player on offense. He blocks, runs and catches the ball well. He could play all five skill positions without practice because his knowledge of our offense is so good.”
Many talented football players who are accustomed to carrying the football sometimes tend to obsess over personal statistics. When discussing his team and the season, Willis reveals a team-focused nature rather than a persona geared toward self.
“This season is going well. Our record currently is 7-2 as a team,” Willis says. “We’re a tight-knit group, and although we’ve had a couple of tough losses, we always regroup and recover together as a team.”
Willis seeks to make an impact on his teammates and other students away from the playing field. He can be found encouraging them to do better in the classroom and helping tutor them when they’re struggling with their studies.
“I’m always there for my teammates in any regard,” Willis says. “If I notice areas that need improvement, I always try to provide helpful insights that might help them improve their game. Outside the game, I’ve tutored some of my teammates when they were slacking in their grades. I really try to lead by example.”
According to Irwin, Willis is a natural leader who demonstrates exemplary character, and his running back’s positive influence goes far beyond the locker room.
“He is a captain on the team and definitely leads by example,” Irwin says. “He is very reliable and trustworthy. He has a great work ethic and moral character. He is well respected by peers, teachers and members of the community. He is so poised and mature off the field. He is a leader in the entire school, not just the football team. He uses sound judgment and takes responsibility for his words and actions.”
Like other students with high grades, Willis is very ambitious regarding his future. His goal is to continue his football career in college, then later the pro level. If he falls short of the professional ranks, he intends to pursue a career as a sports physician, specializing in sports injuries and therapy, or perhaps start his own international company.
Willis is interested in a number of schools with a reputation for academic excellence, such as Duke, Vanderbilt and Furman, and is receiving letters of interest from them and many others for both academics and athletics, though he’s still waiting on athletic scholarship offers.
Along with school and athletic endeavors, Willis is involved in church. He credits his parents for instilling in him faith in God as the highest priority in his life. Much of his community service is performed through church.
“I’ve always been involved in my youth group and working during worship service,” Willis says. “My favorite times were when my dad and I were ushers together. Through church service and studying the Bible, my dad and mom instilled in me to always put God first and serve Him and how important it is being a member of the Church of Christ.”
Through church events, Willis has shared his faith, given Bible studies and served with his family by feeding the homeless.
By all accounts, Willis is a driven student and athlete. When considering his competitive nature, Willis recalls formative experiences as a child on the playground.
“I realized I was a very competitive kid when I was in pre-K and all of us kids used to race. I used to hate it when on occasions, this kid would beat me, and I would always ask for a rematch in order to prove I was the fastest. Also, seeing my grandfather being inducted into the Savannah Baseball Hall of Fame and hearing the stories about the plays my dad used to make on the field when he was younger drove me to prove to them that I was better than they were at that age,” Willis says.
His father’s hard-earned hardware from past glory days also served as an impetus for excellence for the multi-sport athlete.
“Something else I always strove to do was to end up with more trophies than my dad, after seeing all of his stacked up in my grandparents’ house,” Willis says. “So, I think it’s my desire to always be the best that drives me to succeed on the field.” ITG
Robert Preston Jr. 
John DuPont 
Smax 
Kay Milam 
