For the next year and a half until she graduates, Africa Williams wants to focus more than ever before on her academics. So it only made sense to get the recruiting process out of the way. And when it comes to education, Williams felt like Fordham was her best bet.
That’s why the Banneker junior star guard verbally committed to the Rams on Thursday, spurning the likes of VCU, Seton Hall and Drexel.
“It was mainly for academics plus basketball,” Williams said. “They have an excellent women’s basketball program and it’s a good academic school.”
Fordham offered Williams awhile ago, she said, but the Bronx school wasn’t really on her radar until first-year head coach Stephanie Gaitley took over. She’s gone to see the Rams play at Rose Hill Gym a handful of times and thought they would be a perfect fit for her with a chance to also play college basketball in front of friends and family.
“I love the coaching staff,” Williams said. “Since Day One, when I visited the school, I felt I had a connection with them.”
It’s been a number of years since a city star went to Fordham, but Gaitley has done well with stars from the Big Apple in the past. She was extremely successful at LIU before moving on to Monmouth. The veteran coach has been a winner wherever she’s gone – she’s the all-time winningest coach at Richmond and LIU.
And Williams is a bonafide star. The 5-foot-7 guard can score in any number of ways and is a lethal shooter from the outside. She’s also extremely strong and has the ability to finish inside against bigger players. Williams, who transferred from Bishop Ford after her freshman year, is averaging 28.3 points per game this year for Banneker and led the PSAL in scoring (29.1) last year.
“She’s a very capable scorer,” one Division I assistant coach said. “[Fordham is] a good place where she can be a part of turning the program around. She should play a big role in the rebuilding of that program.”
Gaitley has already picked up a commitment from 6-foot-2 forward Samantha Clark out of St. Rose (N.J.). HoopGurlz has the skilled big ranked No. 99 in the country for 2012. Williams expects to play point guard and off the ball.
“When I spoke to the coach, it’s not just one thing – I’ll be able to be the one and the two,” Williams said. “I feel I can do both. The Fordham team is mainly a shooting team, so I feel like I can fit in.”
Williams admits she needs to bear down academically and thinks that having the recruiting weight off her back will only help. Her father, Mike, said when travel season starts, Williams makes trips to New Jersey to play for the NJ Sparks five days a week. That can affect her school work and even her ability to qualify to play Division I basketball.
“I really want her to focus on academics,” Mike Williams said. “I don’t want her to worry about basketball and traveling.”