UConn landed forward Kwintin Williams, a junior college transfer who figures to bring eye-catching athletic ability to the Huskies.
A phone call last week from Kevin Ollie pulled him away from the Power Five schools that were after Williams, which included TCU, Washington State and Pittsburgh. He made his choice Sunday afternoon.
“I wasn’t really thinking about the American [Athletic Conference]. I was really set on the Pac-12 or the ACC,” Williams said Sunday from Anchorage. “And then I got a phone call from Kevin Ollie. The conversation we had, had me leaning toward UConn by the end of the conversation. The relationship we would have, the things he pointed out, I didn’t have any other conversation like that with any other high major coach. Kevin Ollie wasn’t beating around the bush, didn’t give me any kind of fluff. He was straightforward, and I really appreciate him for that. The relationship we’re going to have made the decision for me.”
Williams, 6 feet 7 and 215 pounds, is known for acrobatic finishing moves and a 44-inch vertical leap. He split his formative years between Anchorage and Oklahoma City. He originally committed to Oregon, but for academic reasons played two years of junior college basketball in Arizona, keeping his dream of playing major college basketball alive.
“There were days when it didn’t look like I was going to be able to continue my education, as well as basketball,” he said. “I was thinking about going overseas. My faith from God and my support system and family were amazing through this process. Everybody stuck with me and showed me what was important, how much basketball meant to me. So I went and got the grades, did what I had to do to get on the floor and perform.”
UConn had two scholarships open for 2017-18 and was ready in case a player reclassified, or came available late in the summer. Williams was the player to add depth, versatility and maturity to the frontcourt. He averaged 18 points and 8.3 rebounds for Pima College in Tucson in 2015-16, then went to Arizona Western but didn’t play so he could preserve three years of eligibility.
“[UConn fans will see] a very, very, very aggressive style of play,” Williams said. “Every rebound, put-backs, very aggressive offensively and defensively, with the will to win. I would call it aggressive play, yes, sir.”
Williams will join freshmen Josh Carlton, Tyler Polley and Isaiah Whaley, sophomore Mamadou Diarra and junior college transfer Eric Cobb, and David Onuorah, a fifth-year transfer from Cornell, and returning Terry Larrier in the frontcourt. It’s a group of players between 6-7 and 6-9 with different shapes and skills. Jalen Adams, Alterique Gilbert and Christian Vital return to the backcourt, joined by Antwoine Anderson, a fifth-year transfer from Fordham, as the Huskies complete an extensive roster overhaul. They still have one scholarship open, if they choose to use all 13.
Williams plans to stay in Arizona through the next month or so, working with his trainer with a goal of getting his vertical leap to 48 inches, then arrive at UConn in the fall.
“[Ollie’s] call was out of the blue,” Williams said. “I had been praying on it, and that call kind of answered my questions. That relationship thing is really key when you get to this level. He told me on and off the floor, we’ll be able to accomplish great things.”
.galleries:after {
content: ”;
display: block;
background-color: #c52026;
margin: 16px auto 0;
height: 5px;
width: 100px;
}
.galleries:before {
content: “More UConn Men’s Basketball”;
display: block;
font: 700 23px/25px Belizio,Georgia,’Droid Serif’,serif;
text-align: center;
color: #1e1e1e;
}
