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MEMPHIS - Elliot Williams' plan was to wait until today to announce his college decision at a press conference.

But the 6-foot-4 St. George's senior guard had his mind made up after practice Wednesday, and the decision was Duke.

"I went home (Wednesday) and I talked it over with my family, and we just decided to go ahead and do it that night," said Williams, who picked the Blue Devils over Tennessee, the University of Memphis and Virginia.

"It's a good decision for me. That's the place where I felt the most comfortable. To me, it's the best situation for me."

Williams, ranked the No. 16 overall prospect in the class of 2008 by Rivals.com and the No. 1 player in the state, said he called Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski on Wednesday night to inform him of his decision.

"I called him to let him know that I committed, and he said he got teary-eyed. He told all the assistants, and it was great," Williams said.

"He wants me to play the two (shooting guard) position. Sometimes the one, sometimes the three. I just want to get out there and play."

Williams said his father, Mexwayne, contacted Tennessee, Memphis and Virginia on Wednesday night to alert them of his son's decision.

"All four schools through the recruitment process have been great. It's just Duke, at the time, I felt very comfortable with it," Williams said. "Basketball-wise, academically, it was just a good fit for me."

"All four schools had great things to offer. I just thought at this point in time Duke was the right decision for me."

A slashing, long-armed lefty, Williams averaged 21.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and two steals per game last season to lead St. George's to a 25-6 record and a Division II state runner-up finish in just the school's second varsity season.

"None of us knew this, but I think he was leaning a little more and a little more toward Duke," St. George's coach Jeff Ruffin said. "For the last couple of nights, they (Williams and his family) were just going over checklists and making sure that was where he really felt comfortable. "I don't think the decision was difficult in saying, 'Yes,' to any of them. I think the decision was difficult in saying, 'No,' to any of them. They're all nationally ranked programs with great coaches and great facilities. But I think the academic fit and the smaller-school fit similar to St. George's - I think that's what made him very, very comfortable."