Elliott Williams to announce choice Nov .2

Elliott Williams to announce choice Nov .2
The Commercial Appeal
October 17, 2007

MADRID, Spain — MEMPHIS — St. George’s High School senior guard Elliot Williams’ mother, Delois, has done her part. Now it’s up to her son to make a decision between Duke, Tennessee, Memphis and Virginia sometime before Nov. 2.

“He narrowed it down to those four, and he kind of left it up to me and my husband to go in and do the research on the four colleges,” she said. “We’ve given our blessings on the four. It’s his decision right now.”

Williams, who was visited Wednesday by Memphis assistant Derek Kellogg and Virginia coach Dave Leitao, said Wednesday evening he hasn’t yet made his decision, but will announce one on Nov. 2.

“It’s all even right now,” said Williams, a 6-4 lefty rated as the No. 3 senior shooting guard prospect nationally by Rivals.com. “I’m going to sit down with my family and discuss everything and make the best decision from there.”

Williams made his fourth and final official visit last weekend, sitting courtside during Memphis Madness festivities Friday at FedExForum.

“That’s why it’s one of my four — it’s my hometown and I love coach (John) Calipari,” he said. “I felt a comfort level with the team, going up there to midnight madness and hanging with the guys on the official visit. I’ve always liked Memphis.”

St. George’s coach Jeff Ruffin said he isn’t sure where or what time the Nov. 2 announcement will be made.

“It’s all new to us, of course, so we’re not sure if we’re going to have a press conference that day or whether we’re even going to do it on campus,” said Ruffin, whose Gryphon basketball program is entering just its third varsity season.

“I think that’s kind of his own personal timetable that he’s set. ... Of those four schools, I would imagine all four will be represented on campus at some point this week.”