Possible basketball recruit bumps UVa to top of the list

After coming to Virginia over the weekend, checking out the grounds, talking with players, coaches, and the program’s academic coordinator, Derrick Williams has moved UVa to the top of his college list.

The 6-foot-7, 255-pounder from St. Anthony’s High in Jersey City, N.J. loved everything about his unofficial visit.

“I had heard so many things about the campus and stuff like that. I just had to see it myself - and the campus was just beautiful,” Williams said. “It’s in a great location. I like the environment. I like the people and overall everything about it.”

Really, the only thing left is for Virginia to feel the same way about Williams. Because only one of UVa’s coaches - Ron Sanchez - has ever seen Williams play, Virginia has yet to offer him a scholarship.

Eric Harrield, Williams’ AAU coach and also the freshmen coach at St. Anthony’s, expects the staff to give Williams a strong look in the coming weeks.

Williams says he already has offers from Miami, Seton Hall, Providence and Richmond. Williams and AAU teammate Eli Carter both received offers from Richmond, right on the spot, after playing in the Spiders’ Elite Camp shortly after their visit to Charlottesville.

Williams, who would like to make his college decision before his senior year at St. Anthony’s begins, said he enjoyed talking with new Virginia coach Tony Bennett.

“He was very upbeat,” said Williams, who also chatted with Virginia players Jamil Tucker and Calvin Baker. “He’s an upbeat person. He was very excited. I can understand his excitement in being in that facility that they have.”

Harrield, who graduated from Virginia in 1994, concurred.

“That new arena might be the best in the country, if not the best,” he said. “I was blown away. I was there when they had U-Hall. This thing is just…great.”

Harrield, who had previously dealt with former Virginia coach Dave Leitao, enjoyed meeting Bennett for the first time.

“He’s a great guy,” Harrield said. “He just has a lot of passion. It seems like he’s ready to turn Virginia around and get it back to where it used to be and deserves to be. As an alum, that’s how I feel.

“He just seems like a really genuine guy. He’s the kind of guy you just want to be around.”

Bennett told Williams that he doesn’t get caught up with size and that he puts higher value on skills and effort. That could bode well for Williams, who some say might be a little small to play power forward in the ACC (he is generously listed at 6-foot-7).

Bennett also showed Williams and Harrield video from his days at Washington State.

“A lot of the rumors are that he slows the ball down and plays really slow,” Harrield said. “From what I saw, that’s definitely not the case.

“It looks like a fun system to play in - a system Derrick could actually thrive in with his size and skill set.”

Williams thinks he could fit in very well.

“I’m an outside-in player,” he said. “I like to face up and take people off the dribble. I finish well around the basket.

“I like getting dirty. I like contact.”