One of the hotter prospects in the nation after the summer tournaments is forward Latavious Williams. After originally being a member of the 2008 class, Williams reclassified and is a part of the 2009 class. KSR caught up with Williams' AAU coach Scooter Owens, of the Brandon Bass Elite.
Williams, a 6-foot-7 combo forward, averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds a game last season for Starkville (MS.) High School. With an additional year of exposure to AAU play, Williams has taken full advantage. "He's played excellent this summer. He's been hurt, playing at about 70 percent," said Owens.
The Starkville native is among the best post graduate prospects in the nation, and for good reason. "He's explosive. He's a combo forward, very athletic. He can shoot the basketball and put it on the floor. His athleticism is what stands out the most," said Owens. "He wants to get better at his ball-handling and get better defensively," said Owens. "He just wants to continue to improve."
Williams has the attention of several schools going into his prep year. "Everybody in the country," said Owens. "It's a long list. LSU, Mississippi State, Clemson, Xavier, Marquette, Kansas State, Alabama, UAB, and Kentucky," said Owens.
With Kentucky being in the market for a forward prospect in the 2009 class, Williams definitely fits the billing. A talent such as Williams, you know that Kentucky has been in touch. "I talked to a guy from Kentucky a couple weeks ago, coach (Jeremy) Cox, but he hasn't called me back," Owens said.
With such a long list, Williams still doesn't have a specific favorite or a timetable for decision. He previously told Scout.com that he would be making a December decision.
Williams will spend his fifth year at the Patterson School in North Carolina.