Texas A&M Signs Louisiana Standout Robert Williams
Nov 11, 2015 | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M men's basketball head coach Billy Kennedy announced Wednesday the signing of forward Robert Williams, who is regarded as the top prospect in the state of Louisiana.
"For me, being a Louisiana guy, to get the number one player in the state of Louisiana is exciting," Kennedy said. "Robert is extremely talented. He's a shot blocker, an athlete, and brings something we don't have in the program right now from an athleticism standpoint and his ability to alter opponents' shots around the basket. He can score too. When he figures out how good he can be, it could be scary."
Williams is considered a consensus four-star prospect, with ESPN regarding him as a member of its Top 100 as well as the No. 1 player in the Pelican State. Both ESPN and Scout.com slot Williams as the No. 12 power forward prospect nationally with ESPN ranking him as the 48th overall recruit in the country.
"Williams is a blossoming prospect who is just starting to scratch the surface of his talent," ESPN.com's national recruiting director Paul Biancardi said. "His best quality right now is his versatility and his shot-blocking ability, as he can influence the game on both ends of the floor. Long and athletic with a good motor, Williams runs the floor with effort to finish a break with explosiveness."
A 6-foot-8, 225 forward, Williams plays his prep ball at North Caddo High School in Vivian, La., where he stars for head coach Ron Meikle. As a junior during the 2014-15 campaign, Williams earned First Team All-State accolades from the Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association and honorable mention All-State distinction from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association after averaging 21.0 points and 13.4 rebounds per contest.
"Aggie fans can expect the type of player who comes in a game and makes an immediate change in the flow of the game, because of his ability and skill level to block and alter shots with his length and quickness," Meikle said. "He's going to take a little bit of time catch up to the speed of the game in the SEC, but he is really skilled and really smart and will be able to help defensively immediately."
Last season, Williams helped guide North Caddo to a 29-4 record and a showing in the semifinals of the Louisiana Class 2A playoffs, coming within two wins of a state title. During the summer, he played for Houston Hoops where he contributed 8.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 63.5 percent. An elite shot blocker, he led the entire Nike EYBL by maintaining a 3.6 block-per-game average.
"He had a coming out party at the state tournament and really started to figure out how good he is," Meikle added. "It really took off from there and he had a great summer in the Nike circuit. I think A&M is really getting a hell of a player."
"For me, being a Louisiana guy, to get the number one player in the state of Louisiana is exciting," Kennedy said. "Robert is extremely talented. He's a shot blocker, an athlete, and brings something we don't have in the program right now from an athleticism standpoint and his ability to alter opponents' shots around the basket. He can score too. When he figures out how good he can be, it could be scary."
Williams is considered a consensus four-star prospect, with ESPN regarding him as a member of its Top 100 as well as the No. 1 player in the Pelican State. Both ESPN and Scout.com slot Williams as the No. 12 power forward prospect nationally with ESPN ranking him as the 48th overall recruit in the country.
"Williams is a blossoming prospect who is just starting to scratch the surface of his talent," ESPN.com's national recruiting director Paul Biancardi said. "His best quality right now is his versatility and his shot-blocking ability, as he can influence the game on both ends of the floor. Long and athletic with a good motor, Williams runs the floor with effort to finish a break with explosiveness."
A 6-foot-8, 225 forward, Williams plays his prep ball at North Caddo High School in Vivian, La., where he stars for head coach Ron Meikle. As a junior during the 2014-15 campaign, Williams earned First Team All-State accolades from the Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association and honorable mention All-State distinction from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association after averaging 21.0 points and 13.4 rebounds per contest.
"Aggie fans can expect the type of player who comes in a game and makes an immediate change in the flow of the game, because of his ability and skill level to block and alter shots with his length and quickness," Meikle said. "He's going to take a little bit of time catch up to the speed of the game in the SEC, but he is really skilled and really smart and will be able to help defensively immediately."
Last season, Williams helped guide North Caddo to a 29-4 record and a showing in the semifinals of the Louisiana Class 2A playoffs, coming within two wins of a state title. During the summer, he played for Houston Hoops where he contributed 8.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 63.5 percent. An elite shot blocker, he led the entire Nike EYBL by maintaining a 3.6 block-per-game average.
"He had a coming out party at the state tournament and really started to figure out how good he is," Meikle added. "It really took off from there and he had a great summer in the Nike circuit. I think A&M is really getting a hell of a player."
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