Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Latavious Williams, the No. 6 power forward in the nation, would consider going to Europe if he doesn’t qualify academically for college.
“If he didn’t qualify I’m thinking he would maybe have to look at some junior college or possibly some European situations,” said Carlos Wilson, Williams’ coach at Humble (TX) Christian Life Center.
“I think Europe is a viable option in his mind. I really do think there’s a possibility that he would look into playing overseas if he didn’t qualify. It just depends.”
Williams is a multi-talented 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing forward who is also considering Memphis, Georgetown, Kansas State, Baylor and Marquette.
“There’s a renewed interest in Memphis now that Coach [Josh] Pastner has the job because that was the guy who was recruiting him to begin with [at Memphis],” Wilson said.
“Kansas State has been recruiting him the longest. You have Georgetown and you have Baylor. Marquette has showed some interest of late.
“Unofficially he’s been to Georgetown, to Baylor, and he’s also been to Kansas State. I’m not sure if he’s been to Memphis.”
Wilson reiterated that Kentucky was not in the mix.
“Kentucky at this point is not an option,” he said. “He hasn’t been contacted by anybody on Kentucky’s staff or anything like that.”
Wilson said Williams has put in a lot of time trying to fulfill his core requirements to become eligible.
“Right now he’s wrapping up his academic situation,” Wilson said. “He’s doing very well and he’s on track. He’s turned it around 360 degrees.
“With that being said, academically, he’s really going to take the next couple of weeks to make a decision on his future.”
Wilson said Williams can play multiple positions at the next level and could have a major impact.
“I see Latavious right now as the Shawn Marion type of guy, the Stacey Augmon type,” Wilson said. “He can put up big man’s rebounding numbers but he’s an ultra-athletic slasher from the wing spots. And he can also shoot it. He”s a very versatile basketball player. The thing that makes him special in my eyes is that it doesn’t matter to him.
“If it takes him playing the four spot to win the game, he’ll play the four. If you need his length out on the perimeter, he’ll do it. If you need for him to guard the center, he’ll do it and won’t complain.
“He’s just your classic basketball player.”
Where he takes those skills — Europe or an American college — remains to be seen. But Wilson said he expects a decision within a few weeks.
“I would like for him in the next two weeks to try to sort through everything,” Wilson said.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Latavious Williams, the No. 6 power forward in the nation, would consider going to Europe if he doesn’t qualify academically for college.
“If he didn’t qualify I’m thinking he would maybe have to look at some junior college or possibly some European situations,” said Carlos Wilson, Williams’ coach at Humble (TX) Christian Life Center.
“I think Europe is a viable option in his mind. I really do think there’s a possibility that he would look into playing overseas if he didn’t qualify. It just depends.”
Williams is a multi-talented 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing forward who is also considering Memphis, Georgetown, Kansas State, Baylor and Marquette.
“There’s a renewed interest in Memphis now that Coach [Josh] Pastner has the job because that was the guy who was recruiting him to begin with [at Memphis],” Wilson said.
“Kansas State has been recruiting him the longest. You have Georgetown and you have Baylor. Marquette has showed some interest of late.
“Unofficially he’s been to Georgetown, to Baylor, and he’s also been to Kansas State. I’m not sure if he’s been to Memphis.”
Wilson reiterated that Kentucky was not in the mix.
“Kentucky at this point is not an option,” he said. “He hasn’t been contacted by anybody on Kentucky’s staff or anything like that.”
Wilson said Williams has put in a lot of time trying to fulfill his core requirements to become eligible.
“Right now he’s wrapping up his academic situation,” Wilson said. “He’s doing very well and he’s on track. He’s turned it around 360 degrees.
“With that being said, academically, he’s really going to take the next couple of weeks to make a decision on his future.”
Wilson said Williams can play multiple positions at the next level and could have a major impact.
“I see Latavious right now as the Shawn Marion type of guy, the Stacey Augmon type,” Wilson said. “He can put up big man’s rebounding numbers but he’s an ultra-athletic slasher from the wing spots. And he can also shoot it. He”s a very versatile basketball player. The thing that makes him special in my eyes is that it doesn’t matter to him.
“If it takes him playing the four spot to win the game, he’ll play the four. If you need his length out on the perimeter, he’ll do it. If you need for him to guard the center, he’ll do it and won’t complain.
“He’s just your classic basketball player.”
Where he takes those skills — Europe or an American college — remains to be seen. But Wilson said he expects a decision within a few weeks.
“I would like for him in the next two weeks to try to sort through everything,” Wilson said.
