Recruiting Report: Jelani Williams (2017)

Already with offers from Penn, Delaware, and Old Dominion, Sidwell Friends’ 2017 Jelani Williams has become of of Maryland’s hottest prospects.A 6-foot-5 guard, Williams received his first offer from Penn last year, and has recently added the others -- it seems more are looming. “I’m receiving a lot of interest from most of the Ivy League schools, I just came back from Princeton. I got invited to Penn State’s camp, and I’ve been talking to Maryland and Georgetown, and schools in this area, and I just took a visit to Temple as well,” said Williams, who was just making a quick stop at Temple. “I went up there (Temple) for a day on the way back from Princeton’s camp, the coaches just showed me around campus, we talked awhile and I went home.” The cerebral guard is adamant that academia is a primary focus of his, and lists one of the nation's most prestigious academic universities as an early favorite. “I really like the Princeton coaches, specifically Coach (Brett) MacConnell gives off a great vibe,” said Williams. “They are very high on my list right now.” As a 6-foot-5 guard, Williams has spent most of his youth playing shooting guard, and though not the least undersized, says he’s been working on becoming a true point guard. “I’m transitioning into more of a true point guard with Team Takeover, I’ve been working on that since my freshman year,” said Williams. “Before I had been a combo guard, but more of a two, but I’m definitely working on trying to become more of a complete point guard, who can move to the two if needed.” The talented guard cites finishing at the rim and leadership as his strengths, and says he’s been working to improve his body, and his jumper. “I’ve been working everyday to improve my body, I’ve been in the weightroom everyday, and out at the track,” he said. “And also building a consistent jumpshot, so I’ve really been in the gym getting up a lot of reps, and getting up a variety of shots.” With the July live periods beginning this weekend, Williams is eager to show off his improvements as a player, and though he feels “blessed” to have any recruitment come his way, he mentioned a couple additional schools he would like to hear from. “My (personal) goals for July really would be to show off some things that I’ve been working on, the athletic part of the game, and skill-work. And also to have my recruitment to pick up a little more,” said Williams.   “A couple schools that I really would be interested in going to would be Stanford, Virginia, and a couple others. But really I’m happy to talk to anybody that's willing to recruit me, it’s been a blessing for me, and I’m just looking forward to it picking up.”