Recruiting Report: Jelani Williams (2017)

<p>Already with offers from Penn, Delaware, and Old Dominion, Sidwell Friends’ 2017 <strong>Jelani Williams</strong> has become of of Maryland’s hottest prospects.</p><p>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.</p> <p>“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.</p> <p>“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.”</p> <p>The cerebral guard is adamant that academia is a primary focus of his, and lists one of the nation&#39;s most prestigious academic universities as an early favorite.</p> <p>“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.”</p> <p>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.</p> <p>“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.”</p> <p>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.</p> <p>“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.”</p> <p>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.</p> <p>“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.  </p> <p>“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&#39;s willing to recruit me, it’s been a blessing for me, and I’m just looking forward to it picking up.”</p>