Johnathan Williams III to Mizzou; JaJuan Johnson to Announce Nov. 2; Nichols Visiting Tennessee

 

Four-star power forward Johnathan Williams III is headed to Missouri.

The 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward from Memphis Southwind announced for the Tigers over Georgetown, Michigan State  and Tennessee during a press conference Thursday night.

“It’s just a great situation,” Williams told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I went to their workouts, saw their workouts, and they work extremely hard. I know they’re gonna do big things this year and then next year when I get there.”

“He’s a multi-dimensional player, a skilled player,” Southwind coach Paul Edwards previously told SNY.tv. “He plays the one, two, three and four.

“He reminds you of a young Lamar Odom.”

Williams III joins guards Travis Jorgenson and Wesley Clark in coach Frank Haith’s 2013 recruiting class.

JOHNSON TO ANNOUNCE NOV. 2

Williams’s teammate, shooting guard JaJuan Johnson, will announce his college choice Nov. 2, his mother told SNY.tv Thursday.

The 6-foot-5, 188-pound Johnson will decide between Alabama, Marquette and Miami after opting not to visit UConn this weekend.

Johnson visited Marquette last weekend for Midnight Madness and said Marquette’s committed players wanted him to join him there for 2013.

“It’s all on him,” Shaun Williams, Johnson’s mother, told SNY.tv. “Whatever he feels will be his best fit academically, style of play and where he can make an impact early.”

NICHOLS VISITING TENNESSEE

Austin Nichols, a 6-8 power forward from Briarcrest Christian (Tenn.) visits Tennessee this weekend after having visited Memphis last weekend.

He is also considering Vanderbilt, Duke, Virginia and Auburn.

“We’re excited about the visit,” Mark Nichols, Austin’s father, told GoVolsExtra.com. “It should be an awesome weekend.”

Still, he also said he didn’t think Tennessee was a good fit for his son.

“I don’t know if that would be a good fit for him, you know because Tennessee has a grind-out style type of play and I think a more open offense would be more conducive to Austin now,” Mark Nichols said.

“I’m not saying it wouldn’t work, but I’m saying I just think he would fit better other places. If he chooses Tennessee, I’ll be happy for him and we’ll go on with it. It’ll be up to Cuonzo to get the best out of him. Hopefully he’d have a system that works for him.”

Tennessee has already landed Nichols’ AAU teammate, shooting guard Robert Hubbs Jr.

Mark Nichols said his son expects to commit in November.

“I don’t know if we’re going to sign early yet, but we’re going to hopefully commit in three weeks, if possible,” he said.