Great news, as reported first in the blogosphere by Down with Goldy: Rodney WIlliams is going to be a Gopher.
What has been speculated for months is finally offiical. Tubby Smith has now landed Minnesota's two top recruits in the 2009 class in Royce White and Williams. This should send a message to the likes of Bo Ryan that the days of vulturing all of Minnesota's top basketball talent are over. Tubby Smith has closed the floodgates.
As Scout reports, Williams descended from a plane following his trip to Santa Clara and made his committment official. Williams had narrowed his list down to Minnesota and Santa Clara. High profile programs like Memphis and Kansas were also in the mix.
Williams is a 6'5 two-guard or small forward. He's been described as a slasher with room to grow. White and WIlliams will bring the Gophers much needed athleticism at the wing positions. If you think about what the Gophers have been playing at the three spot--Jamal Abu-Shamala, Blake Hoffarber and Damien Johnson--there is much to be desired in terms of offensive production.
Unless the Gophers free up a scholarship by moving Blake Hoffarber to an academic scholarship, this commitment ends Minnesota's 2009 class. It features Rivals 5-star White, Rivals 4-star Williams and 3-star point guard Justin Cobbs.
As it is, the 2009 class adds tremendous upside to Tubby Smith's more-than-solid 2008 class. Beginning in 2009, the Gophers will have two sophomore big men in Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson, a mature Damien Johnson, a sharp-shooting Hoffarber, Devoe Jospeh, Devron Bostick, Al Nolen and Justin Cobbs, among others to go along with the fabulous freshman duo of White and WIlliams.
My friends, that sounds pretty nice to me.