I wanted to post this earlier after writing my game story Wednesday night:
Derrick Williams of La Mirada High was even more impressive than I anticipated he would be as I watched him score 33 points and dominate the game from start to finish in the 83-67 Suburban League victory over Mayfair.
The 6-foot-7 Williams (he's listed at 6-8; I doubt he is that tall) is much, much improved since I watched him play a bunch in July.
He'll played immediately and a lot for USC as a freshman.
Another player in the game who signed a national letter of intent in November, Mayfair's Kyle Richardson, played only about three minutes in the first half because of foul issues (he had three before halftime).
The game was already out of hand by the time he got untracked offensively but the future Long Beach State 49er scored 17 points in the second half.
Getting his signature is another example of why Dan Monson and his staff are doing such a solid job of recruiting at Long Beach.
My son played with Derrick briefly for the AAU club I-Can All-Stars and I've always liked Derrick's game since the summer of 2007. I've nicknamed him 'Big Smooth' because he goes about his business so effortlessly. He'll do well at USC because he loves playing in big games.
Frank,
Who was Richardson guarding when he picked up those three fouls? Was it Williams?
Tom
No, Richardson was not guarding Williams.