Count Derrick Favors and Latavious Williams among the elite prospects who may wait until the spring to choose a college.
The NCAA early signing period begins Wednesday.
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Favors, the No. 3 prospect in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals, is down to Georgia, Georgia Tech and N.C. State.
Hulio Smith, one of Favors’ AAU coaches with the Atlanta Celtics, sent me a text message Monday night saying that Favors would “probably [sign] in the late period.”
“It’s whenever he feels that he’s ready,” Smith added. “It may be the spring. It may be next week. It’s not a big deal to us so none of us are pressuring him one way or the other.”
Earlier, Smith had said Favors could commit “any day now.”
South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick seconded Smith’s appraisal.
“He’s not going to sign Wednesday, so it’s probably going to be a little bit later,” Reddick said by phone. “He could change his mind anytime.”
Meantime, Latavious Williams, a 6-8, 205-pound three man from Humble (Texas) Christian Life Center, also says he will wait.
“All signs point him toward him focusing on his academics and trying to do something in the late period,” Humble coach Carlos Wilson said by phone.
Williams, the No. 15 prospect in the Class of 2009, is considering Baylor, Florida State, Kansas State and Memphis.
Already, numerous top 25 prospects have said they will wait until the spring, including No. 1 John Wall, No. 3 Xavier Henry, No. 9 Lance Stephenson, No. 16 Dominic Cheek and No. 31 Keith “Tiny” Gallon.“I guess that’s the trend right now,” Wilson said. Williams said he wants to go to college, but would consider Europe a la Brandon Jennings depending on what happens. “I prefer to go to college, but if that don’t work out I will take that route,” Williams said.
