Kansas basketball: Final Countdown for Zion Williamson
By Stan Unruh
Kansas basketball recruit Zion Williamson will make a big announcement in two weeks. Six teams are waiting for good news.
Kansas basketball fans keep an eye on Bill Self’s prospects. As a matter of fact, most of the Jayhawk recruiting news has been unbelievable for the class of 2018. Most of the big names are committed and 6-foot-9 Silvio De Sousa arrived on campus last month. We hope the NCAA will approve him to play immediately.
Williamson, the 6-foot-6 senior from South Carolina announced on social media this week that January 20 is the big day. In two weeks, he will disappoint five coaches and a lot of fans. One coach and the school’s fans will celebrate his choice. Hall of Fame coach Bill Self and Kansas basketball faces a lot of competition for this amazing athlete.
In addition to the Jayhawks, Williamson is also considering and has visited two powerhouse programs with Hall of Fame coaches in the Atlantic Coast Conference. His final list includes a Hall of Fame coach who leads a team in the Southeastern Conference. I don’t think Williamson will choose Duke, North Carolina or Kentucky.
I think the biggest competition for Williamson is among the schools where he lives. It is not easy to say no to the schools at home. They are available daily to show the colors and offer hints at how wonderful Williamson would look at their schools. You know former Big 12 coach Frank Martin and South Carolina are doing their best to get Williamson. Frank Martin’s South team made a final four run last spring. That’s is a huge selling point.
The date is set‼️ pic.twitter.com/BqzjJJpeiz
— Zion Williamson (@Zionwilliamson) January 4, 2018
One school has huge advantage on Williamson
On the other hand, the school with the best chance to sign Williamson could be Clemson. The Tigers won a football national title and returned to the playoff last weekend. The basketball team is also off to a great 13-1 start including a win over Martin’s South Carolina team. It’s an exciting time to attend Clemson but they don’t have a hall of fame coach or Allen Fieldhouse.
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Rivals lists Williamson as the top recruit in South Carolina, and ranks him second nationally. Bill Self spent time with Williamson on November 1, according to Rivals. The recruiting game is a huge responsibility and difficult to second guess. I know Williamson would look great in Crimson and Blue. The fans in Allen Fieldhouse would love to see him on the court next season.