Nick Williams leads Rattlers to the Alabama Final Four

[NYWarrior]

courtesy an informed Cracked Sidewalks commenter from moments ago:

Looking to the future, 6-foot-5 swing man Nick Williams was the top scorer (21 pts) and rebounder (12, yes one more than teammate Demarcus Cousins, the top junior forward in the US) as Leflore High School pulled away for a 74-45 win the the Alabama Southern Regional.

Williams was named MVP of the sectional. The Rattlers led only 44-36 with 49 seconds left in the 3rd quarter with both their starting point guard and center (Cousins) on the bench with 4 fouls and facing a relentless press from Baldwin County. Williams took over both ball handling and clearing the boards to help outscore Baldwin County 30-9 from that point on and leave to a standing ovation in the closing seconds. Can't wait to see him at Marquette - a big, strong 6-5 that can definitely play.

In the news conference after the game, his coach said, "We are sitting here on the way to another Final 4 for one reason - and he is sitting to my right. Noone thought we could come back with only one returning player from last years team, but they didn't realize that one player was a WARRIOR, Nick Williams."

The Dad of one of his teammates said saw my Marquette shirt and said, "I am so glad Nick is coming to Marquette. I love Alabama, but Nick needed to get someplace where they understand and appreciate BASKETBALL, not just go to a football school."

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2008/02/st-johns-numbers-recap.html#c7152714028182698784

[jmayer1]

awesome to hear!!!!

[esotericmindguy]

Is our recruiting class getting recognition?  Seems to me we have a hell of a class coming in next year.

[77ncaachamps]

What a great line by the dad.

Now we can use that as the first pitch to home state recruits: "Wisconsin is a FOOTBALL school."

[mviale]

Love the warrior reference - sounds like anotha playa

[NYWarrior]

here's the newspaper's take on the win

http://www.al.com/sports/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/sports/1203761712145000.xml&coll=3


"What can I say? Nick Williams," said LeFlore coach Otis Hughley, whose Rattlers improved to 30-2 and beat Baldwin County for the fourth time this season. "He's just one of those throwback, old-school fundamental ballplayers."

[mviale]

crean can find em!

[Pardner]

crean can find em!

TC never had a problem finding them, now he is signing them in bunches.  This is a great article on the uniqueness of MU basketball culture and what it means.  Give TC all the credit for building up the hype and PR.  Warrior Basketball has always about being different--from the uniforms, to the characters, to being the iconoclastic underdog, to "the play hard at all costs" mentality, to the wacky and loyal fan following.  Glad to see a recruit and parents from Alabama recognize the specialness of it all.