While he has seen his share of college recruitment over the past year, college coaches have been reluctant to extend a scholarship offer to 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Kwintin Williams. After recently putting himself in a position to qualify academy from the junior college ranks, many college programs are now taking serious notice of Williams. This week he received a scholarship offer from a rising program in the Big-12 Conference.
After taking an official recruiting visit last weekend to Cal-State Northridge, this week Williams received an offer from Texas Christian University (TCU) and their basketball staff.
Williams advised me that he is excited about the offer and plans to schedule a visit to TCU and several other schools in the coming weeks. He currently has no leader, but he is hopeful that he will find the right fit for himself.
Williams also advised that me that really enjoyed his visit to Cal-State Northridge, and that he really likes the idea of playing for former NBA star, head coach Reggie Theus.
"Coach (Jeff) Theiler has really done an excellent job in recruiting me," said Williams. "They want me to play for them immediately. I really like that idea and feel like I can go there and be an impact player."
Williams advised me that he is also receiving strong interest currently from Washington State, UNLV, Arizona State, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Memphis, Minnesota, Portland State and Tennessee State.
One of the most athletic junior college talents in the country last season and over the summer (2016), Williams has had to overcome a lot of diversity for himself. After academic issues and a troubled past, the gifted prospect has seriously improved his academic resume, and is now on pace to graduate.
After a strong freshman season for Pima head coach Brian Peabody, Williams was prepared to have a big sophomore campaign. But after he decided to transfer junior college programs last summer and land at Arizona Western Junior College in Yuma, AZ, Williams learned that he would have to sit his sophomore year due to academic troubles. He also had questionable relationships with both college programs, which caused many schools to back off him throughout the year.
Williams had a great showing last summer in a couple different junior college events, but it was his performance last summer in Jerry Mullen's JUCO Showcase in Kansas City, during the busy recruiting month of July that exposed his talent to many division-I college coaches. In the event, according to Jerry Mullen, the nation's top junior college scout for the past 30 years, Williams was one of the top overall prospects in the event.
A native of Alaska, Williams was the top returning junior college prospect in Arizona's ACCAC junior college conference this season, before he was forced to do an academic redshirt.
We will continue to follow the college recruitment of Williams closely, and bring you any recruiting updates as they continue to develop.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Williams is a very strong and athletic 4-man that also possesses a good ability to step outside and handle and shoot the basketball, although he is still at his best around the painted area where he is able to finish strong at the rim with power dunks and strong finishes. Williams is a high-riser and is among the best overall athletes in America's 2017 junior college class. A 4-man, Williams should develop into a 3/4 man over time with continued hard work on his perimeter skills. A solid shooter, Williams is a good mid-range player and still needs to add more consistency to his long range jump shot to open up his full game. He is a solid ball handler. OK passer that sees the floor - a developing part of his game. Williams is an active and strong rebounder that is quick off his feet, and is a good finisher that gets to the free-throw line quite often. He runs the floor hard. A good low post defender, and solid defensively on the perimeter, but needs to focus more on this area of his game. Good shotblocker. One of the top juco prospects in the West for 2017.
