Fremd's Jordan Williams commits to Illinois State

Fremd’s Jordan Williams blossomed over the course of his junior season. He continued to impress over the spring and summer, both with his high school team and in travel basketball with Elevate on the Under Armour circuit.

But as the evaluations took place among college coaches and the recruiting heated up, there was a program and coaching staff that was always front and center: Illinois State and coach Ryan Pedon.

As a result, the multi-dimensional 6-6 wing committed to the Redbirds following an official visit to ISU this past weekend.

From the start, Williams was blown away by Illinois State’s pursuit, which he says was a “constant.” The Redbirds were the first school to offer and never let up.

Williams visited unofficially in June and followed it up with an official visit this past weekend, where he says he was impressed with all the resources and everything the program and school had to offer. But that regular pursuit during the recruiting chase was appreciated.

“They were constantly recruiting me,” Williams said of Pedon and his staff. “They never missed a game that I played this summer. Every game. They texted or called every single day. I kind of knew from the beginning that this was what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go.”

Williams said he felt an “energy” from Illinois State while also noting he felt something not every player feels in the recruiting process: authenticity.

“Everything felt genuine from them,” Williams said. “You could tell they really believed in me. I have a future home, one that I am excited about, and I’m grateful. I can’t wait for this new journey with Illinois State.”

Pedon and his staff have made recruiting the state a massive priority. Last season Illinois State landed a pair of in-state stars in Waubonsie Valley guard Tyreek Coleman and 6-10 big man Nick Allen of Bradley-Bourbonnais.

This past weekend the priority on the state was clear as the Redbirds had Williams, DePaul Prep’s Rashaun Porter and St. Ignatius’ Chris Bolte on campus for visits.

As Illinois State tries to complete its recruiting class in coming weeks, they do so knowing they have a prospect in the fold who offers two-way versatility. Williams has the size, length and agility to defend multiple positions. He can play some point-forward, thanks to his passing and playmaking skills. If his jumper keeps trending up, he has the potential to raise his game to another level.

“With Fremd I’m the tallest player, forced to play inside a lot,” Williams said. “But my experience with Elevate, where they told me right away I would play on the wing, was great for my development. I worked on my shot, got a lot of reps and expanded my game. I feel like I’m a different player now.”