The J. Howard Williams Award for Male Athlete of the Year Award  

The J. Howard Williams Award is presented to the male athlete of the year at Wingate University. The award honors the memory of J. Howard Williams, a Wingate graduate and local businessman and an ardent supporter of Wingate athletics.

2007 Winner
Sean Barnette, basketball

Sean Barnette is a 6-4 forward who led Wingate to a 25-9 record and the South Atlantic Regional championship. While averaging 21.6 ppg., 17th in Division II, and 7.6 rpg., he was recognized as the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and was a member of the 2007 Daktronics All-American third team. Barnette led his team to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Massachusetts during his junior campaign.