MEMPHIS — Before Wednesday, Elliot Williams had never spoken with University of Memphis men’s basketball coach Josh Pastner, who was still an assistant at Arizona when Williams, a former McDonald’s All-American at St. George’s, signed with Duke over Memphis, Tennessee and Virginia.
“I loved him. He’s a hungry young coach and he has a lot going on right now,” said Williams, a rising 6-foot-4 sophomore guard who was granted his release from Duke on Wednesday so he could transfer to a school closer to his ailing mother.
“He’s a great guy. He made a great first impression on me.”
Speaking publicly for the first time since his release, Williams said Thursday he is considering transferring to Memphis, Vanderbilt, Tennessee or Kentucky.
He also confirmed that, because of his mother’s illness, he is seeking a waiver of the NCAA rule forcing student-athletes to sit out a year after transferring.
“That’s what we’re trying to do. I’m trying to play next year, and I hope that (the NCAA) understands that I’m trying to come closer to home to be with my family,” Williams said.
“I’m looking at Memphis. I’m looking at Vanderbilt. And my parents have contacted the coaches at Tennessee and Kentucky.”
Whether the NCAA would consider a transfer to Kentucky, Tennessee or Vanderbilt “closer to home” and allow Williams to play next season remains to be seen.
Williams said he chose the four schools because of his familiarity with each program.
“That’s why I’m looking at these schools, because I know them. I know the coaches,” he said.
“One of the main things I wanted to do was to meet with and get a chance to talk with Pastner. That was the main thing, because that’s the only coach that I really don’t know (at the four schools).
“I got a great feel from him, so, I mean, I’m not going to drag this thing out. I’m not about to make this another recruitment thing. I’ve been through this.”
Williams, who started 11 of the Blue Devils’ final 12 games as a freshman last season, said he made the decision to leave Duke “about a week ago.”
“It’s been pretty difficult because, I mean, I’m coming from a great situation at Duke, which has been nothing but good to me,” he said.
“The Duke staff and the fans have given me and my whole family a lot of support. To be totally honest with you, if this illness wouldn’t have happened, I’d still be at Duke.
“But it is what it is. I’m real supportive of my family, and I gotta do what I gotta do.”
For now, Williams said he and his family have elected not to divulge the nature or severity of his mother’s illness.
“A lot of people don’t really know what family member it is,” he said. “It is my mom, and as far as she wants me to tell, she’s just sick. ... It’s just a family illness.
“It’s rough because I’m real close to my mom ... and it’s real tough leaving one of my dreams. My dream was to play at Duke and be a part of coach (Mike) Krzyzewski’s family. The coaching staff and the fans have been great.
“But at the same time, it’s my mom, and I had to make a tough decision, leaving Duke to come closer to my family.”
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Comments » 46
vtvol#210290 writes:
I'd be happily surprised if this kid becomes a Vol. Coach K said that Williams has the full support of Duke to grow himself wherever he lands. If K is giving his endorsement, then he's a whale of a kid.
EB4Heisman writes:
He would definitely be welcomed to Tennessee! He sure would help out a lot
PrideOfTheSouthlandBand writes:
wow. That would be a great pickup. Even if he sits a year. He was good enough to get into duke's starting lineup as a true freshman, and he can shoot!
chad_t31 writes:
Would love to see him as a vol. Sorry to hear about ur mother, elliot. My prayers are with u and ur family.
golfballs03 writes:
HOLY MOLY! He is AWESOME! It would be great to get him, but our scholarship situation isn't too good. Maybe he could get an academic one? Supposedly he had stellar grades
BasketVols writes:
For once I hope everyone is respectful on this board.
This is truly a tough situation for this young man, and hopefully he'll be given the opportunity that Tyler was given by the NCAA to move close to home and not have miss a year of b-ball so he can be near his mother.
Can anyone say whether he'd be eligible for the lottery scholarship? We all know that UT doesn't have an available scholly for the basketball team...
cookevol writes:
If he's leaving Duke because of distance from his mother then Memphis is the logical and only choice. 6+ hours to K-town.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
Pearl can call coach Cal and ask how to "make room" for the guys he really wants....LOL.
huntined#565710 writes:
This young man has a big decision to make..We would love to have him as a VOL but if that don't pan out we wish him well any place he goes.. Placing his family first says a lot about him. Good Luck young man as our prayers are with you.
JBVols1698 writes:
michael jackson died
hewwheel writes:
True, but that is 5 less than Memphis to Durham.
BSweet writes:
Would love to have him, but Memphis seems more likely with his mother's illness. Wish him the best and hope his mom gets better.
AllVol1 writes:
Bipolar Bear, are you a Tennessee fan? If so, then I ask you, with respect, to please not say these kinds of things on a UT site. If MJ did anything inappropriate, I do not believe it was ever proven in court or admitted by him. As for Tebow, he might rub some people the wrong way and he is a gator, but he also spends some of his free time doing work to help those less fortunate than him, far more time doing this than the obligatory stuff that all student athletes do. Like it or not, you represent UT everytime you post. Comments like this do not reflect well on us, even if you were just trying to be funny.
If you are NOT a Tennessee fan, then the above is still true, but it just reflects on you.
AllVol1 writes:
This is good news! It further validates his credentials as a QB. The O-linemen and WRs out there are watching this. When he picks UT, it will be even better that he picked us OVER USC and UF. SWARM!!
kiffownsfla writes:
Them was the days 714 lmao JJ! BOOK SAY WATS UP BIG!GO VOLS
golfballs03 writes:
Well, he needs to find a happy medium. Obviously, Knoxville is a lot closer to Memphis than Durham, and he can get home easily from Knoxville. But I'm sure he also wants a situation that will still be best for his future.
MikeInTN writes:
JMO but this kid seems like Memphis all the way!!!
golfballs03 writes:
I don't think CJ Watson is going to be on the Warriors next year
golfballs03 writes:
He said Tennessee was #2 when he signed with Duke....
lomas98 writes:
When Williams was being recruited by TN 2 years ago everyone said that either himself or Hopson were must have's by Pearl. It would be pretty cool to have both of them. He said his parents were the ones who contacted TN and KY. He is a bright student who cares about academics as well, which is a main reason he chose Duke in the first place. I bet he ends up at Memphis or Vandy.
BlakeyWakey writes:
Going to Memphis ..watch
volfan2002 writes:
It will be Memphis or Ole Miss. We don't have a scholarship to offer and I think were to far away for the waiver to be valid.
TDTN writes:
I had the same poster. If I remember correctly she must have been cold wearing that swimsuit when the pic was taken.
MikeInTN writes:
Pastner isn't going to let him get out of Memphis this time...again, JMO! Bruce is finding out how frustrating it is to get bb players out of the Delta City.
eduardo writes:
Just in...........Look for the Vols to land this guy!!! Just a feeling!!! Loved pyt by mj!!
utucla writes:
I'd be shocked if he goes anywhere but memphis....but who knows...Vandy or UT could get lucky.....we'll see....
kingsportvolfan writes:
come be a vol my man!!
you and scotty can tear the sec up!!
orangeJACKET writes:
i don't know. i don't think i want him. he chose an out of state program over us. unlike tyler who went to iowa because of a coaching change before transfering back, williams looked at us an came to the conclusion that we were not a good enough program at the time for him. At least tyler truly wanted to be a vol. besides i wouldn't want to take elliot and then that causes josh selby to change his mind on his commitment. go on to memphis young fella. and best wishes with your mother's health. she'll be in my prayers.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Hey Pride of the Southland...I'm hoping you are someone of influence for the band. If you are could you please tell the director that when UT HAS THE BALL...then gets a big first down---DON'T crank up rocky top! EVERY time this happens the fans are still singing and yelling as the QB is ready for the next play and it's like we're on a road trip!
TommyJack writes:
Excepting the last sentence, I don't much get your post. You find fault with a kid choosing Duke? Wow.
Irwin_Linker writes:
I have no real insight into this transfer, but I do that Williams take academics very seriously. That's why I'm picking Vanderbilt.
Irwin_Linker writes:
I've also read elsewhere that playing right away is not the only factor in his transfer desicion.
MikeInTN writes:
Gee, I could swear Memphis is on the Mississippi delta...thus I guess it could be called a Delta City.
TheBryceIsRight writes:
Josh Selby > Elliot Williams
rockytop4ever writes:
Tough news about his mom. I hope the NCAA will be as supportive as Duke has been. It would be great to have him here in Knoxville but I wish him and his family the best anywhere he lands. Go Vols!
VolFanNC writes:
Not sure we even have a scholarship to offer. Best guess is Memphis, but he may want ot play in the SEC, so would make more sense for him to go to Vandy where he will shine...UT is actually pretty loaded next year and good talent coming in the year after....
lildhoss76ut#638162 writes:
in order for him to play next season it is my understanding that the school has to be within 1 hour or 60 miles of his family for the ncaa to approve. this knocks TN,vandy,and ky out of the running. the only schools in d1 that are that close are memphis,ole miss and ark st. given those choices memphis is the logical decision.
ETNTigerFan writes:
Whatever his choice, I wish him and his family well.
ETNTigerFan writes:
the "Delta" is often refered to to describe the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. The riverbottom region that actually starts north in Kentucky and Missouri and cuts a huge swath through Arkansas and Mississippi down into Louisiana. Call it urban myth or whatever but for some reason, people in Memphis started saying that the Peabody Hotel was built on the geographical start of the "delta". Maybe that's why some people call it the Delta city.
Irwin_Linker writes:
I have lived in Memphis my entire life, other than four years in Knoxville, and have never heard anyone call it the Delta City. Bluff City is the correct term.
murrayvol writes:
Duke is an outstanding school with a Top 10 basketball program. Good choice for most any player.
Elliots presence would make Selby more likely to come....not less.JMO
Slystone writes:
First and foremost my prayers to this young man for being by his Mother and family during this time. I believe when it's all said and done it will depend upon the NCAA ruling as to if he can go to UT, UK or UM. If he needs to be close to his Mom during this time logic says Memphis. I believe he mentioned these schools (including Vandy) because he is familiar with the coaches. The one person he wasn't familiar with is Pastner at UM. The NCAA may deem Knoxville and or Lexington too far for him to consider a transfer and play this fall. I don't know the Regs when it comes to this but one would think if you're moving back home because of this reason you should be enrolled in a school that is very close. JMHO.
jpark001 writes:
This explains how the rule has been modified since Tyler....
Duke transfer Elliot Williams plans to move "closer to home" and ask the NCAA for a waiver to play next season because his mother is battling cancer. He will reportedly choose between Memphis, Tennessee, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. But the problem with those two statements is that they don't seem to jibe, because there's no chance the Memphis native would get a waiver to play at Tennessee or Kentucky, and even Vanderbilt is a stretch.
At least that's what one Division I coach told CBSSports.com.
According to a Division I coach who has dealt with transfers, the NCAA has "tightened up" the criteria for waivers since allowing Tyler Smith to transfer from Iowa to Tennessee without penalty when Smith's father was battling cancer. Smith wanted to "be closer to home" because of his father's illness, so he picked Tennessee, which is 248 miles from his home in Pulaski, Tenn. The NCAA granted the waiver. But the source said the guidelines are now stricter (even if they aren't clearly defined).
"I know a player who transferred to a school 106 miles from his home, and the NCAA denied the waiver," the source said. "They wanted to know that the player was going to have 'day-to-day responsibilities' with the family member before granting the waiver, and they said that you can't have 'day-to-day responsibilities' if you're 106 miles away."
Assuming that ruling is consistent with the NCAA's current way of thinking, it appears unlikely that Williams could get a waiver to play at any of the schools he's considering except for Memphis. Consider:
Vanderbilt is 212 miles from Memphis.
Tennessee is 391 miles from Memphis.
Kentucky is 423 miles from Memphis.
In conclusion, best I can tell, unless Elliot Williams wants to sit out a year, he must transfer to Memphis.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/en...
Colliervol writes:
I can't imagine the NCAA allowing him to transfer to UT without sitting out a year. The only schools that really fit the criteria for this would be Memphis or Ole Miss. Vandy maybe but even that's a stretch. And I had heard that the NCAA had tightened up on the requirements after the deal with Tyler. Doesn't look like a possibility to me.
blitzshoot writes:
How much son?
beartn#223846 writes:
I'm not holding my breath on this one. If his mother is really ill, he probably should go to Memphis. I remember when I got in trouble at UTK, I was thankful for the long distance between campus and my parents in Memphis. I don't think he would be able to visit her much more often than if he stayed at Duke.
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