The NCAA's Early Signing Period is set to take place this week, beginning on Wednesday, November 9th, and will run through Wednesday, November 16th. During this one-week stint, boys and girls college prospects from the 2023 Senior Class will have the opportunity to sign a national letter of intent with their respective college programs during the "early" period. The "regular" NCAA Signing Period won't take place until the spring of 2023, from April 12th through May 17th. A nice list of Arizona prospects could sign national letter of intents this week.
Headlining this list of early signees will be Perry High School's star 6-foot-8, 180-pound senior guard Cody Williams. Williams is one of the nation's elite prospects for the 2023 Class, after a superb spring and summer, where he significantly improved his recruiting stock - becoming one of the nation's Top 20 national prospects in the class.
With many offers on the table for himself, Williams trimmed his recruiting list over the past couple months down to Arizona, USC, UCLA, LSU, Georgia Tech, Colorado, LMU and Santa Clara, a very nice list of college programs for him to consider. Williams has taken official and unofficial recruiting visits to each of his desired programs this summer and fall, and now his final college decision looms. Our Arizona Preps' staff has been advised that Williams will make his college decision this week in a press conference at Perry High School, although the actual day and time has yet to be confirmed.
It is still unclear as to which of Williams's final list of programs will ultimately land his services for college, but, you can be sure, that selected program will be very happy with his commitment and signing this week, as Williams is currently rated as the #14 overall prospect in America by ESPN. The signing of Williams will certainly boost the overall recruiting class for any college program he decides on.
Williams finished the 2022 high school basketball season as a local star, and returned from the spring and summer as a national star. After leading Perry High School to last season's 6A State Championship, Williams went into the spring ranked as the #51 player nationally by ESPN. After a strong spring and summer performance while traveling with Vegas Elite (NV) on the EYBL Nike-circuit, Williams returned as the #14 ranked prospect nationally by ESPN, and a lock now to become a 2023 McDonald's All-American.
It has been an excellent year for the Williams' family, as Cody's older brother Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder-NBA) was selected as the #12 pick in the NBA Draft in June (2022), and is currently playing major minutes for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. Cody is much more highly touted out of high school than his brother Jalen was, and is on the same trajectory as his older brother. It will be very exciting to see where Williams ultimately lands this week, as he is set to give a big announcement this week.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Williams is a very crafty and smooth offensive threat that has a nice overall skill level. He has really grown physically over the past several years, and is still growing into his rather long frame. Williams is as versatile a prospect as there is in the country, as a result of his extreme length of body and versatile skill-set. He can play as a very big point guard or play off the ball as a primary scorer. Williams is still learning how to take over games offensively, as he is so unselfish as a player, but he is coming into his own for sure. He also has a good shooting stroke with nice range, and can score from the stand-still position or on the move. He has a variety of floaters in his bag when he gets in the lane, and has a knack for scoring over bigger defenders already. He is a strong finisher in the lane and over defenders, when he makes up his mind to finish strong at the rim. He can also pass the basketball with either hand and simply makes the game look easy. Williams is also a slick defender that plays passing lanes and makes it difficult for opposing guards to get off, as he has excellent length and is able to play passing lanes quite well. An excellent prospect with tremendous upside and room for growth as a player, with a very high ceiling.
Recruiting Notes: Other Arizona boy's prospects from the 2023 Class that will or could sign national letters of intent during the NCAA's Early Signing Period boy's include AZ Compass Prep's 6-foot-6 senior Mookie Cook, who will finally sign with the University of Oregon, AZ Compass Prep's 6-foot-6 senior guard Rayvon Griffith, who will sign with the University of Cincinnati, AZ Compass Prep's 6-foot-9 senior forward Zayden High, who will sign with the University of North Carolina, Dream City Christian Prep's 6-foot-8 senior David Tubek, who will sign with Memphis University, Estrella Foothills HS 7-foot senior post Noah Amenhauser, who will sign with Grand Canyon University, Brophy Prep's 6-foot-6 senior wing Arman Madi, who will sign with Northern Arizona, AZ Compass Prep's 6-foot-1 senior guard Vincent Delano, who will sign with the University of Portland, Campo Verde HS 6-foot-2 senior guard Isaiah Kai, who will sign with Northern Arizona and Pinnacle High School's 6-foot-6 senior wing Ashton Reese, who will sign this week with Trevecca Nazarene University.
It will be very interesting to see which other top-rated 2023 boy's prospects will surprise us over the next week with a commitment and signing to a college program. AZ Compass Prep's 6-foot-4 senior guard Tru Washington and Bella Vista Prep's 6-foot-6 senior guard Jason Fontenet are two other superb prospects in the class that could decide early, or could also wait until the spring signing period to make their college decisions.
Top-rated girl's prospects from the 2023 Class that will sign national letters of intent this week include Perry High School's 6-foot-2 senior forward Khamil Pierre, who will sign with Vanderbilt University, and Mountain Ridge High School's 6-foot-1 athletic senior forward Miyah Verse, who will sign with the University of Georgia.
Looking forward to an action-packed week of recruiting updates.
