Virginia Tech is still in the running for Kenny Williams III, a highly sought after shooting guard out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va.
My dad and I have decided to cut my list to 7 schools , We appreciate everyone that has taken the time to recruit me the past couple years
— Kenny Williams III (@KWill_24) August 7, 2014
Top 7 , no order pic.twitter.com/sVxxNRFtpZ
— Kenny Williams III (@KWill_24) August 7, 2014
As a junior at L.C. Bird, Williams averaged 21.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He was also very active on the defensive end with 2.7 steals and a block per contest. He was also a key contributor to the Boo Williams squad in the Nike EYBL.
At 6'3" 175-pounds Williams still has some room to mature physically, though I think he already has the look of a D-1 player more than many prospects at this stage. The thing that most impressed me about his game is his vision and passing in transition. He's very confident running the break and I think he has a good enough handle that he could play some point guard if asked.
Williams also shoots the ball extremely well, making 49% of his shots from the field and knocking down 80% of his free throw attempts last season.
He currently ranks 83rd in the ESPN100 where he's listed as the No. 2 player in Virginia.
It's perfectly fair to wonder if the Hokies stand a chance with a prospect still considering Georgetown, Indiana and North Carolina among others but there are a few interesting variables that might benefit Tech.
A kid like Williams from the Richmond area might like to stay in state which would pit the Hokies against VCU. That's still a tall order given where the programs are currently, but it's more manageable than the alternative competitors. It would also serve as a preview of Shaka Smart Vs. Buzz Williams which I think will be very common in the next few years.
The head coach at L.C. Bird is former Hokie point guard Troy Manns who took over the program in 2011. No good head coach would overtly steer a kid to his alma mater, but it's nice to know at least one person in Williams' inner circle has Hokie leanings and an understanding of what it's like to play basketball in Blacksburg.