USA BBall: Emmitt Williams prepares for his next visit
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Emmitt Williams remains one of the biggest mysteries of the 2018 class but, after taking his first official visit last weekend, the recruitment of the five-star power forward is beginning to take shape. Down to a final seven, Williams has set another visit while he recaps his prior one.
A 6-foot-7 power forward and one of the most productive prospects in the 2018 class, Williams kicked off his time in Colorado Springs in a dominant fashion. Making his first appearance at the USA Basketball trials, Williams finished everything around the basket, rebounded the ball emphatically and showed an evolving skillset where he knocked down a handful of 15-foot and out jumpers.
Ready to take a deeper look into his recruiting process, Williams recapped where he stands with things.
“I just visited Oregon last week my first official visit. It went great. I have one more visit set up for LSU for next week on October 12. I cannot wait to go there,” he said. “I am just blessed that so many coaches want to take time to recruit me. It means a lot because I would be the first one in my family to go to college.”
With one official visit under his belt, Williams spoke highly on his visit to Oregon.
“It was a long flight. The facilities are nice. I got to see a football game and one of my friends from Fort Myers, he plays out there, so it was nice to see someone from your hometown so far away, do great out there,” Williams said before touching on the Ducks’ sell. “They compare me to Jordan Bell. That is just a great comparison. They say that I have a better offensive game than him coming in as a freshman.
“The system is great. I could see myself out there. The coaching staff is great, the players are great, and everything was just awesome.”
Next weekend, Williams will visit LSU, a program that has been hot on the recruiting trail this year. “They got Nazreon Reid and Javonte Smart; I love those guys. I have been knowing those guys since middle school. We talk like every day,” he said. “I cannot wait to go out there. It is going to be crazy.”
A member of the Each 1 Teach 1 travel program, a former star of the program who once suited up for LSU is doing his best to get Williams in a Tigers uniform. “I talk to Tone (Antonio Blakeney) every day. He is like my blood brother,” Williams said. “He just said he loved it and that with the new coach, he wished he would have stayed for another year. He still goes there to work out and that he just loves the assistants on staff.”
While LSU and Oregon seem to have the upper-hand with Williams, the five-star forward remains open to the process. “I still have Florida, Duke and everyone else I am taking to,” he said. “I still am open to all the schools on my list.”
Look for one or two other visits to be set before coming to a college decision this fall.