from jsonline.com

MU gets commitment from guard

The Marquette Golden Eagles on Wednesday secured a verbal commitment from Nick Williams, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard from Le Flore High School in Mobile, Ala.

Williams, who just recently turned 16, is entering his junior year in high school and won't be eligible to play at MU until the 2008-'09 school year. Already considered an elite prospect in his class, Williams had been hotly pursued by the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Cincinnati, Florida State, Mississippi, Mississippi State and Miami.

Florida, Kansas and Connecticut had also been expressing interest recently.

"He was convinced he was going to Alabama," said Otis Hughley, Williams' coach at Le Flore. "One of his high-school teammates is at Alabama, the other is at Auburn. They were lobbying pretty hard for him. He just decided he wanted to go to a pure basketball school where he has the best chance of development."

Williams took part in MU's Elite Camp for prep players at the Al McGuire Center in June and had strongly considered the Golden Eagles ever since.

"He got a chance to get a bird's-eye view of the players, the campus," Hughley said. "He's always been intrigued by Dwyane Wade. When he went there he got to see exactly what he thought Marquette would be for him. I think that really tipped the scales."

MU assistant Bennie Seltzer, who was hired by coach Tom Crean in April, is a native of Birmingham, Ala. and played a key role in Williams' recruitment. According to Hughley Seltzer and MU were relentless in their pursuit of Williams over the past few months.

"When they followed him every game this summer (in AAU), he said that's what made the difference," said Hughley. "Plus his dad is a die-hard Marquette fan. He saw what Tom and those guys did with Dwyane and he hopes the same things for his son."

Williams averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game as a sophomore for Le Flore, which went 29-6. He boasts nearly a 6-10 wing span and has experience playing in the post as well.