BBall Recruiting - Visit Reaction from EM 4* Terrance Williams
Definitely think Michigan is sitting in strong position with Williams.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:46 PM ^
Better highlight film than I saw before. Looks quicker than I thought. Has a good frame and can add more muscle in college. Doesn’t look to be a superior athlete but doesn’t need to be.
Seeks out contact on his drives and has a real nice high arcing shot from all over the floor. Looks to be a four tool player(motor, handle, shooting and rebounding). Am excited.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:46 PM ^
This is acceptable.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:50 PM ^
Looked at his game schedule and they play every 2 to 3 days until mid February. Then they should have playoffs after that. He wont be making any other visits until at least March.
December 31st, 2019 at 2:53 PM ^
For comparison sakes, who do you have?
December 31st, 2019 at 3:18 PM ^
In terms of body type and versatility, Williams reminds me a bit of a guy I wanted Beilein to pursue in Donnie Tillman. Terrance won't ever be the playmaker that Donnie is, but might end up being a better shooter.
I typically gravitate toward guys like Donnie and Terrance at the college level because they're ready from Day 1 and likely to stay at least 3 years while giving you 10-12pts per game and 4-7rebs per game for at least 2 years.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:34 PM ^
Averaging 12 and 5 for UNLV, I'll take that!
December 31st, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
Ant Wright is saying that Williams' coaches have said "Howard is getting it done"
December 31st, 2019 at 3:13 PM ^
Todd, Dickinson, Jackson, Williams, Howard would be a great class. Top 5 or so. And other than Todd, most the guys look like 2+ year players which is great too.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
Joshua Christopher is still possible.
Jace Howard is a lock because obviously. Could he be a walk on? I mean.....I’m sure his folks can afford it. His dad has a pretty great job.
December 31st, 2019 at 5:59 PM ^
He can't be a walk on now as he took an official visit. Unless something has changed with the NCAA rules.
January 1st, 2020 at 1:28 AM ^
Pretty sure that's a myth.
December 31st, 2019 at 9:58 PM ^
Is Jace Howard a lock?
Obviously he could be, but who here is in a position to know? I'll just point out that he hasn't committed. Why not? I don't see the advantage in waiting if he is sure to be in the class. He won't be scaring off other recruits.
Maybe he likes the idea of playing for his dad on a big stage, but also wonders about his playing time. Would he ride the bench or would there be questions about whether the minutes he got were deserved? Maybe Jace needs to be convinced that his dad is really anticipating a serious role for him on the team.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
Howard is going to add another guard to this class. If not Christopher, then someone who pops up on the radar late, reclassifies or grad transfers.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
We were kicking the tires on Adam Miller, not sure where that is at.
December 31st, 2019 at 5:02 PM ^
FWIW I’ve read Miller depends entirely on what Dosunmu does. If he stays, he’s not going to Illinois
December 31st, 2019 at 6:56 PM ^
I've heard the same and that if not Illinois, it won't be Michigan either. Moses Moody didn't sign with Arkansas, but my guess is that it's either Christopher or someone not on the radar now.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:06 PM ^
We’re already guaranteed the top class in the big ten. Not many players left uncommitted and those who haven’t aren’t really high on any big ten school. Keep getting the top class in the big ten and we will continue the success that Beilein started. Go Blue!
December 31st, 2019 at 3:20 PM ^
Just got word from a player on the current roster that Terrance is a great kid from a great family. Seems like the current team embraced him on the visit.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^
You think he will take all 5 visits? As I posted above and looked at his schedule, it looks like it would be March before he could visit anyone else.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:49 PM ^
In my opinion, I don't think there will be a ton more visits.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
I've been rewatching the 2013 NCAA tournament, man I miss that level of athleticism and shooting! Looks like Howard is going to get us back there and pretty quickly. We were a couple bogus calls away from a title in 2013 and a McGary away from a serious run in 2014, got beat on a well contested buzzer beater by UK in the elite 8.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:52 PM ^
If we're being candid, college basketball is just downright awful this year in terms of talent. Its almost unwatchable at times, certainly at an all-time low.
I've always been a much bigger NBA fan, but the 2013 team would almost certainly destroy any current college team. While I wouldn't necessarily say the 13 squad was athletic, we were certainly more skilled at every position.
December 31st, 2019 at 3:59 PM ^
NBA? May I ask why? I love your contribution to the blog and praise your tenacity when it comes to scouting. I need to know what about the NBA appeals to you.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:06 PM ^
In a word, parity. I don't think parity is particularly good for the game of basketball. Functionally, parity simply means the vast majority of teams are rather mediocre. College basketball is peak parity right now, and it downright sucks in terms of quality.
I don't enjoy watching teams run sets for 20 seconds to end up with a semi-contested jumpshot at the college level. The talent level at the NBA is just so much better, which is to be expected. The pace is just so much faster, the players much more athletic and skilled.
College basketball is extremely boring right now because every team faces the same issue, a lack of talent.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:12 PM ^
And to what do you attribute that current lack of talent?
The current draft rules were adopted long, long ago. The one-and-dones can't be it.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:16 PM ^
The one and done rule is certainly part of it because now you're seeing the premier prospects go the overseas route and sitting out a year. Once that rule ceases (likely soon), I think you'll see the overall talent level increase at the college level.
It gives college coaches a chance to rid themselves of rentals and focus on mostly developmental projects that stay multiple years. Less turnover + more development = better product.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:25 PM ^
While I enjoy and respect most of your posts, I want to challenge you on the thesis of "the premier prospects going the overseas route."
How many one-and-dones are currently overseas? RJ Hampton and LaMelo Ball ... anybody else of note?
If it's just those two (maybe a couple of others that I've forgotten), that hardly explains the widespread dearth of 2019-2020 college talent that you're describing.
Not trying to be belligerent ... just wanting to traffic in facts.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:34 PM ^
Darius Bazley, Anfernee Simmons are a few others. Then you have guys that play a few games and sit out such as James Wiseman and Cole Anthony......and it’s going to become more common until the one and done rule ceases
In tandem with that, the overall talent level has steadily declined in recent years at the HS Level. 2020 is the worst class I’ve viewed since I began scouting. 2021 may be worse.
Bottom line is that the premier kids want to be compensated for their abilities. Let them do it in the NBA and let the others take advantage of the developmental mechanisms in place at the college level and it will benefit all parties
December 31st, 2019 at 5:08 PM ^
Cole Anthony isnt just sitting out to sit out. He had surgery on his knee.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:36 PM ^
Ehh. The NFL has parity and they are doing well. The NBA seems to be losing fans what with the super teams that are being constructed. I guess I’m an old timer that misses the days of teams built through the draft and shrewd trades instead of mega-million dollar FA deals and shoe contracts from companies whose product falls apart. I for one love parity in college sports. Not having parity is hurting college football.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:47 PM ^
The NFL is an entity built on the propensity for violent confrontation, hence the appeal. It will always be the most popular sport in the US.
While I think you have some valid points, I just don’t happen to agree with parity being good for basketball. College basketball fans typically are alums and have personal ties. Essentially a lot of CBB fans are enthusiasts of a particular school as opposed to the game itself.
You need Goliath in order for David to matter. Nobody cared about the 05 Pistons/Spurs Finals, whereas the 04 Pistons/Lakers Series was appointment TV.
Basketball is at its peak with dominant NBA powerhouses.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:13 AM ^
The "NBA losing fans" is a myth.
Internationally, the league is as strong as ever.
December 31st, 2019 at 6:20 PM ^
The increasing number of quality players from abroad also benefits the NBA, but not so much college basketball since a relatively large proportion of those guys play in other leagues and never play college ball until drafted.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:10 PM ^
Guess I'm basing athleticism on what our team has looked like the last few years. Mitch McGary was all over the place and G Rob and Timmy were always getting lobs or dunks. Nik didnt really turn it on until the next season. They ran the floor at a fast pace and liked to dictate tempo. It was an exciting team to watch.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
No question that was a very fun team to watch. The offensive firepower we had that season was tough to match up with.
December 31st, 2019 at 5:31 PM ^
First off I hate the nba. But I do agree this year’s college basketball season looks like a cluster fuck of good teams with no dominant power. The reason is because of the nba. The nba is stealing kids left and right by allowing them to get drafted way too early before they are ready to be drafted due to draft scouts that seem to know nothing about basketball telling these players to leave early. This ends up destroying their college team and they end up in the nba but never leave the d-league. The nba doesn’t need the d-league. College basketball should be the d-league. By allowing these kids to further develop under good coaches the college game will be elevated and they will be more prepared for the nba. I’m not gonna name anyone but there have been many players leave Michigan to the nba that clearly weren’t ready and they end up flaming out after 2-3 years. Either they go overseas or end up in the d-league. Yes they are making money but the amount they make is a joke compared to what they could be making. Keep them in college. Even one more year would be huge in terms of development.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:20 PM ^
We just want fair refs and a level recruiting playing field. Yah. Cant wait until the NCAA is investigated.
December 31st, 2019 at 8:28 PM ^
McGary was really good.
Did he flop in the NBA because of his back or just not good enough?
December 31st, 2019 at 4:15 PM ^
Matt - assuming christopher doesn't choose UM, is jace the only other recruitment worth watching (besides williams)? any truth to kyree walker whispered interest?
December 31st, 2019 at 4:19 PM ^
I have zero intel on Kyree Walker, unfortunately. From everything I've heard recently, Christopher is still likely to stay West. I'm sure more targets will come up in the coming months as coaches are terminated and kids decommit that haven't signed.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Matt, are you surprised any that Howard hasnt been able to break into the Windy City yet? He was a kid from the inner city projects who became successful. Doesnt seem like it's been targeted that much so far, took awhile to offer Adam Miller
December 31st, 2019 at 4:27 PM ^
To be fair, Chicago isn’t the basketball Mecca it once was. Also difficult to measure Howard’s priority level of Chicago given that he took over so late. Probably need 2-3 cycles before knowing what type of impact Juwan has in Chicago
December 31st, 2019 at 4:30 PM ^
Ok thanks
December 31st, 2019 at 4:41 PM ^
Are there that many elite prospects coming out of Chicago these days?
High school basketball there (much like Detroit) seems to have fallen somewhere below its zenith of the 70s-90s.
Just took a quick look at the 247 database to make sure I wasn't imagining this: there are three top 50 recruits in Chicago's 2020 class ... but in the five prior classes (2015-2019) there was a total of one top 50 kid.
I agree that I hope Juwan's street cred gets us in on elite talent ... but I think we are seeing that already. And I don't care where the high ceiling guys come from, as long as they come.
December 31st, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Give me recruits that give back to Michigan. E.g. Coach Howard.
I dispise the one and done. Parents are money grabbers.
December 31st, 2019 at 8:05 PM ^
Horrible take. The only reason there’s a such thing as a one-and-done is because of the idiotic rule that’s sure to be changed in the near future. For shame a young man with a possibility to help his family improve their lives, by using their God given talents. Get a grip!
December 31st, 2019 at 4:32 PM ^
Cpme to Michigan son a nd become a national houisehold name and probably NBA player
December 31st, 2019 at 4:42 PM ^
Looks like a smooth stroke and good overall game.
December 31st, 2019 at 5:01 PM ^
Would be great to get this kid. The highlights against IMG he goes up against Mark Williams, committed to dook over us, and gets the best of him a few times. Believe that’s footage from the City of Palms tourney that had a lot of talent at it.
Matt - do you think Zaire Wade would be considered for another guard spot if the others fell through?
December 31st, 2019 at 5:10 PM ^
Zaire is not a HM prospect IMO. As a walk on he’d be fine.