Maryland Gets Verbal Commitment (Updated)

Jordan Williams, a 6-foot-9, 245-lb. forward from Torrington High School in Connecticut, gave a verbal commitment to Maryland early Monday morning. Reports of the commitment had been circulating this week, but I wanted to confirm the news firsthand before relaying it to all of you.

Williams, a member of the Class of 2009, had narrowed his decision down to two schools and chose Maryland over St. John's. In a brief phone interview this evening, Williams said even throughout this past weekend, he remained torn between the two schools.

In the end, he said, it came down to where he could make the most immediate impact and where he would be the most happy without a basketball in his hands. Williams said he wants to pursue a major in criminal justice, and he had heard Maryland had a solid program in that area. Throw in a chance to play in the ACC, and Williams decided Maryland was the best fit for him. "I'm excited," he said.

Between now and next fall, when he will report to College Park, Williams said there are several aspects of his game that need attention. "I'm definitely going to work on my outside game and get into better conditioning," said Williams, who projected himself playing the power forward position in college.

Tony Turina, Williams's coach at Torrington High, said he believes Williams has the talent and potential to make quite a name for himself as a Terp. "I think this kid could end up being one of the best kids to ever play down there (at Maryland)," Turina said.

Rivals.com ranks Williams as the No. 102 prospect of the Class of 2009 and the No. 25 power forward in that group. Turina listed Williams's strengths as having soft hands and being agile for a big man, as well as having a consistent 10-12 foot turnaround jumpshot in his arsenal.

"At the next level, you're seeing another Tyler Hansbrough as far as ability to run the court," Turina said. "And usually, he finishes with a monster dunk."

Turina noted Williams's biggest weakness right now is his current competition. "He's playing in an environment where he can dominate whenever he wants to dominate," Turina said.

A summer on the AAU circut served Williams well, according to Turina, and helped him prepare for the level of competition he'll face once he arrives at College Park in the fall of 2009. Turina said Williams doesn't play with the emotion of a lot of kids his age, that he is more methodical in his approach on the court. But that didn't stop Turina from continuing to make bold claims about Williams's future as a Terp.

"He's a poster player," Turina said. "He's a kid that Maryland will love to put out in public and make him like a poster child."

Williams joins James Padgett, a 6-foot-7, 210-lb. forward from Brooklyn, N.Y., as members of Maryland's 2009 recruiting class.