To the victors go the spoils.
Only a few months after winning its third national championship, the men's basketball program received a commitment from its fifth recruit for the Class of 2006 this weekend, which could ensure Duke's continued dominance into the near future.
Shelden Williams, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Midwest City, Okla. ranked among the top prospects in the country, verbally committed to the Blue Devils Sunday night after coach Mike Krzyzewski arrived at his home. After reports surfaced on the Internet that Williams had committed to Duke, Rodney Dinby, Williams' coach at Midwest City High School, confirmed his pupil's commitment Monday afternoon to The Chronicle. A press conference will be held tomorrow at Midwest City High School in which the 18-year-old phenom will make it official.
"He plays very big for his size. He's 6-8, he's very athletic, and strong around the basket," said recruiting analyst Kurt O'Neill, who first reported Williams' commitment on his EliteHoopRecruits.com website. "He's a great rebounder and a great offensive scorer. He's kind of a similar style of player to Elton Brand."
Williams joins guards Sean Dockery and J.J. Redick and post players Lee Melchionni and Michael Thompson in Duke's recruiting class of 2002. He is rated the fifth-best prospect in the country by Prep Stars Recruiter's Handbook, while The Sporting News lists Williams as the No. 1 power forward in his class.
Many were surprised when Williams, who had stated publicly that Duke was his favorite, did not commit to Duke after visiting the campus two weekends ago for the Duke All-Star Charity basketball game. This speculation was further fueled by the hiring of Williams' former coach at Midwest City High, Terry Evans, by Oklahoma. In fact, after Evans joined coach Kelvin Sampson in Norman, Okla., Williams added the Sooners to his list of serious suitors and stated that he would make a number of official visits to other schools still in the running before making his ultimate choice.
"I was a little surprised because everybody thought he might commit when he visited Duke, but a lot of guys go through the whole process," O'Neill said.
However, after the Duke coaching staff visited Williams' home Sunday evening, the 230-pound power forward decided that he wanted to play for the Blue Devils, whom he had favored all along.
With the addition of Williams, Duke not only lays claim to one of the nation's premier recruiting classes, but also boasts a formidable frontline with which its opponents must contend. Williams will be joined in the post by Thompson, whose stock has risen considerably after he impressed onlookers at the Nike All-America basketball camp last July in Indianapolis, Ind.
Now, the Blue Devils have their sights set on consensus top-10 recruit Shavlik Randolph, a 6-10 post player from Raleigh's Broughton High School. In talking to Williams and Randolph, O'Neill does not expect Randolph to be dissuaded from coming to Duke because the Blue Devils have already signed two people who play the same position as he.
"I don't think it affects [Randolph's decision] at all," O'Neill said. "Despite what people might say, [Duke has] been recruiting Shelden with the intention of both of them playing there. I think Shavlik and Shelden could definitely play together. Guys like Shavlik Randolph and Shelden Williams very rarely worry about who else is there because they know they're good enough and they know they're going to get their minutes.
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