PEORIA HEIGHTS — Basketball is deeply rooted in Camron Williams’ family tree.

The Peoria Heights senior has bloodlines within a legendary Bradley University coaching family as well as parents who are former collegiate athletes. In his own right, Williams is having another breakout season, leading the Patriots in scoring, highlighted by last month’s 43-point effort against Peoria Quest.

“We knew he had the capability,” Peoria Heights coach Jimmy Jordan said, “where there was going to be some games where he would put up 30-40 points this year. We knew there were some games where there would be some certain teams and certain coaches that would say, ‘He’s not going to do that.’ ”

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More often than not, Williams is scoring at will. He boasts a 21.8 points per game average, scoring 501 points so far this season and having recently hit the 1,000th career points plateau.

Jordan says his 6-foot-4 guard spent the time this past offseason developing from a "really good set shooter" to someone able to get to the rim and finish, as well as incorporate an effective game in the post.

“He’s taken the next step offensively,” the eight-year coach said, “especially being able to score from all three levels.”

Football workouts went a long way in improving athleticism and explosiveness, according to Williams. He says those grueling conditioning sessions turned into long hours in the gym where he would sometimes put up over 1,000 shots.

Now, the focal point of many opposing team’s defenses, another aspect of Williams’ game has grown.

“Trusting my teammates,” he said with a grin.

Those famous relatives of Williams may be smiling, as well.

His great-grandfather is William “Corky” Robertson. The late multi-sport standout at Peoria High and Bradley athlete went back to Peoria High School for 31 years where he coached six different sports, then became the school's principal.

This makes his great, great grandfather A.J. Robertson, the legendary Bradley athletic director and three-sport coach, namesake of Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.

Another basketball branch to that tree is James Robertson, who played at Richwoods, Bradley and Elmhurst. He is the Peoria Heights assistant coach and a first cousin of Williams.

“My mom,” Williams said, “She tells me about (the impact that they had on athletics in the Peoria area) almost every time I play.”

That mom? Sarah Pacheco.

The 2001 Galesburg grad was named the Journal Star Girls Class AA Player of the Year that same year. She averaged 17.1 points and 8.0 rebounds in leading the Silver Streaks to a 31-8 record and a Class AA fourth-place state finish.

“She might be a better rebounder than I was,” Williams joked. “I think in our games, we play very similar. Be able to shoot the ball and get to the rim and still be able to make post moves.”

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Pacheco, who scored 1,260 points in her Galesburg career, went on to win the 2003 NJCAA Division II women’s basketball national championship with Illinois Central College in legendary coach Lorene Ramsey’s final season.

As a 6-foot guard/forward, Pacheco describes herself as a "determined competitor" during her playing days. Her game was shaped by playing against well-rounded, athletic and developed programs, forcing Pacheco to consistently expand her play.

There is one very distinct on-the-court characteristic that the mother and son share.

“I can the spark in his eye when he has that moment of, ‘You’re not going to take me down,’ " she said. "It’s like a personal feel that you have of being competitive. … And he truly just enjoys the game. It’s what he enjoys.

“Looking back now that I’m older, I didn’t realize that was such a passion. If you truly enjoy something, it’s not work or a job. I do admire and miss that at times, seeing that little spark.”

His dad, Brent Williams, played baseball at Kankakee and ICC. The younger Williams would like to follow in both of his parents’ footsteps in college.

“I want to go (junior college),” he said, “… and planning on playing baseball and basketball as of now.”

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As for the Heights season-long expectations, there were aspirations of winning 20 games but so far are sitting on a 12-11 record. But those 11 losses don’t completely tell the tale — seven were by single digits including a five-point double-overtime loss to state-ranked Illini Bluffs.

Winning close games later this month could result in accomplishing something the program hasn’t experienced in 14 years — winning a regional title for the first time since the magic run to the 2010 Class 1A Elite Eight.

“We know we can compete with anybody,” Jordan said, “and our mindset is we want to be playing our best basketball as we’re getting into regionals. … We feel like we’ve set ourselves up for our ultimate goal this season was we want to play for a regional title. We want to win a regional title.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Heights player Camron Williams in iconic Peoria basketball family