Senior scout teamers Williams, Trapp help Auburn excel

AUBURN, Ala. – Motivated to help their teammates excel, senior scout teamers CJ Williams and Reed Trapp play a vital, if unsung, role in Auburn’s success.

“My job here on the scout team is to make everybody around me better,” said Williams, a 6-2 guard. “That’s everything. I’ve embraced that role because at the end of the day we all want to win.”

Before each game, the scout team learns the offensive sets and defenses Auburn’s next opponent relies on, allowing the Tigers to practice against the looks they anticipate seeing.

For the 6-foot-6 Trapp, that meant going one-on-one last season with the SEC player of the year.

“Getting to guard Johni (Broome) every day, that was my matchup last year,” Trapp said. “To see the way he would perform was super fun. That Final Four run is something I’ll remember forever. Getting to be part of that team and in that locker room was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Williams began his college career at Texas Tech, where his dad, Corey, was an assistant coach before joining Bruce Pearl on the Plains in 2023. 

“He thought it would be a good place for me to get better and learn, so I decided to come and join him,” CJ Williams said of his decision to come to Auburn. “That’s one of the best things about being here at Auburn. I got so much better I think off the court as well as on the court.”

Daily father-son time is one of CJ’s favorite parts about being at Auburn.

“To have him here is everything,” he said. “My parents are right here, not only just one call away but a couple miles away. Having them here is crucial.”

To get the most out of his time at Auburn, CJ applies his dad’s input. 

“Spending time with people and making those connections that last hopefully for the rest of your life,” he said. “There are also memories being made that you will remember for your lifetime. My dad tells me these are great times in your life that you will remember.

“Being a sponge and learning from everybody in here. There’s something you can learn from every person who walks in this gym to help you get better every day.”

A dean’s list student, CJ studies accounting in Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business. 

“Balancing basketball and accounting is super hard,” he said. “ I compartmentalize it in my brain. When I’m doing school, I focus on school and when I’m doing basketball, I focus on basketball, and I try to give as close to 100 percent as I can.”

All the hours learning and practicing countless offenses and defenses paid off last season with an SEC championship and Final Four appearance, with CJ and Corey cutting down the nets in Atlanta after defeating Michigan State in the Elite Eight to win the NCAA Tournament South Regional. 
 
“It meant a lot because I grew up coming from a coaching background,” CJ Williams said. “Growing up, you know how important it is to win. When any coach loses a game, their family has to deal with that so being able to cut down those nets meant so much, not just for me but for my family.”

Williams started his senior season with a bang, hitting a deep 3-pointer in the Tigers’ win over Jackson State. 

“The 3 I hit this year from the logo,” he said. “Because you don’t get that many opportunities to go in the game. Whenever you have three minutes or less of time, you’ve got to make it count. I decided to shoot it from far to put a little exclamation point on the bucket. That’s one of the best moments I had here at Auburn on the court.”

Like Williams, Trapp started his college career elsewhere before transferring to Auburn. 

“I knew that’s where I wanted to be,” Trapp said. “A lot of my really good friends from high school had already come here and they love it here. I was familiar with Auburn and knew it was the place I wanted to be.

“Getting to play for and learn from Coach (Bruce) Pearl has been one of the biggest honors of my life. He’s one of the best to ever do it, to see the way he loves his guys.”

A native of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Trapp played his freshman season at Birmingham-Southern before reuniting at Auburn with his Covenant Christian high school teammate Haston Alexander.

With the 6-10 Alexander handling the post on their state championship team, Trapp played guard in high school before spending more time in the paint on the Plains.

“It’s been weird for me because in high school, I was a two or three guard,” he said. “Taking that transition to be the four or the five or wherever they need me. Whatever I can do to help the team. If you need me to guard Johni every day, that’s what I’ll do.”

Trapp has had a front-row seat to Auburn’s head coaching transition from Bruce Pearl to Steven Pearl.

“This year I’ve really enjoyed watching Steven,” Trapp said. “It’s cool to see the way he’s grown and developed. It’s encouraging to see how he’s stepped up to the role. I love all the guys in the locker room, all great dudes to be around. I feel like he’s doing a really good job with it.”

After he graduates next August, Trapp plans to put his finance degree to work in either commercial real estate, banking or utilities. For now, he’s all ball.

“I’m trying to be where my feet are right now,” he said. “Get through this season, help these guys get better every day, then I’ll figure out what I’m going to do in March.”

From a family of Vanderbilt graduates, Trapp proudly wears orange and blue, thankful for his three seasons with Auburn basketball.

“It’s been tremendous,” Trapp said. “I’m not the man I was when I got here. Coach (Bruce) Pearl had a lot to do with that. Seeing the way he was helped shape who I want to be and strive to be.”

Trapp joined teammates on mission trips to Honduras, growing spiritually under the leadership to team chaplain Jeremy Napier, another reason he treasures his time at Auburn.

“Super impactful,” Trapp said. “He makes sure that I’m in the word every day and grounded. I have so much help from other areas pouring into me that have really helped me grow.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer