ASU visit leaves a strong impression on Donovan Williams

Even though the Rivals Top-100 guard is being deliberate and patient with his recruiting process, Donovan Williams did admit that he was tempted to commit to the Sun Devils during his official visit to Tempe. We caught up with Williams who detailed his experience this past weekend, and how Arizona State could be a potentially good fit for the Fort Bend (Tex.) Elkins star.

the Fort Bend (Tex.) Elkins star.

“The love the coaches and players were showing me was amazing,” Williams said. “Rob (Edwards), Kimani (Lawrence), Lu (Luguentz Dort) …all those guys were really cool with me being that it was my first time there. The fans at the football game definitely stood out. It was such a surreal experience seeing them and it blew me away that they (the fans) knew who I was and were chanting my name. That was the craziest thing that ever happened to me and one of the biggest surprises of the whole visit.

“Everyone just welcomed me with open arms and really embraced me.”

Aside from bonding with the players, Williams enjoyed learning about their experience with head coach Bobby Hurley and his staff.

“They said coach Hurley has a great basketball mind,” Williams commented, “and he has a great passion for the game. Kimani was my host and I spent a lot of time with him and Rob and they talked about how last season went and all the effort and love the whole university has put behind the basketball team. For a player that really stood out.

“I watched their workout and saw videos of the drills they did, and how those drills translate into the next level in the NBA. Coach Hurley isn’t the guy to just sit back and delegate. He’s active in every drill and that’s good to have a head coach who hands-on with the players and everything they do.”

In regards to the non-basketball aspects of his trip, Williams was equally enthralled with what the university had to offer, as well as the general atmosphere in Tempe.

“The city was great and definitely a different feel from Houston,” Williams remarked. “You don’t see that many buildings like you do back home and I was telling coach Burno how the mountains there caught my eye and how peaceful they were. The city life is great too.

“My parents who are former educators were with me on the trip and they really liked the academics Arizona State had. We really liked hearing what the advisors had to say about getting my education and how they laid out the entire academic plan from the time I would arrive there in the summer of my freshman year.”

Williams said that the ASU coaching staff likes his versatility playing either guard position, as well as small forward, and see his overall skill set as one that would be compatible with the Sun Devils’ style of play.

“They see me as a player that can shoot and also attack off the drive,” Williams noted. “The like to push the ball in transition and definitely like me as a player who can get the rebound and make plays for the team and myself. They like having a player like me on the roster who can really just do a little bit of everything and be a go-to guy.

“They can really develop my skills from the moment I step on campus and help me achieve my goal of playing in the league.”

Williams is one of the fastest rising prospects in the 2019 class and has seen his recruiting stock soar over the summer. He did narrow down his list of favorites to five in early August and is intent on officially visiting all schools before he makes his commitment.

All the remaining scheduled visits for the guard will take place the rest of the month in this order: Texas, Texas A&M, Miami and Georgia.

“I’m going to take my time and continue to talk to my parents,” Williams stated, “and definitely when and where would be the best place for me. Whenever we get together and make that decision we won’t hesitate to announce it.

“I’m going to take all of my visits and just review everything and compare the schools before I make my decision. Hopefully, I’ll decide early in November, but if not, I’ll be signing in the late period (in April 2019).”