2020 F Terrance Williams Talks Top Schools, Notre Dame & More

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – It wasn’t the start Gonzaga College High School had envisioned as the Eagles from Washington, D.C., fell behind quickly in their game at the HoopHall Classic against Olive Branch from Mississippi on Saturday night.

But the Eagles, led by 2020 forward Terrance Williams, rebounded and finished with a 69-56 victory.

“We came out in the second half and bounced back,” said Williams, who earned Player of the Game honors with 27 points and 10 rebounds.

“A good team win. We played together as a team.”

Williams has seen his hard work in the offseason translate to court this winter.

“I’m excelling at stretching the floor, shooting,” the 6-foot-7, 210-pound junior said. “I’ve been working on that all summer; getting a lot of wing moves, dribbles, catch-and-shoot, stuff like that, which is going to translate to the next level. I think that’s what I’m doing best right now.

“The season has been going well. Individually, it’s been going well with recruiting. Everything has been going well, so I really can’t complain.”

Williams said he’s blessed to be in the position he’s in with double-digit offers from some of the nation’s top programs, but also acknowledged it can be stressful at times.

“A lot of coaches calling you, the conversations you have,” he described. “They’re all a lot of good options and you’re going to have to choose one someday, so that’s the stressful part.”

Williams pointed to Virginia and Stanford as the two schools coming after him hardest at this point.

“(Virginia head coach Tony) Bennett said I’m his first priority,” Williams added. “He’s been talking about offering me since freshman year, but I got it over the summer. He’s definitely been talking prioritizing me.”

Stanford head coach Jerod Haase has also made an impression.

“Stanford is Stanford,” Williams continued. “Academics, basketball, best of both worlds out there.”

He’s already taken official visits to both and listed Georgetown, North Carolina State and South Carolina as schools he’s planning to visit in the future.

Notre Dame is another school he’s been hearing from for a while as well.

“They haven’t offered yet, but they’ve been there since freshman year, especially with Prentiss Hubb,” he said of his former teammate at current Irish point guard. “He goes there, that’s my boy.”

Williams said an offer from the Irish would “definitely” put them among his group of top schools.

“I love playing with Prentiss, that’s my guy, point guard,” he said. “I like the coach, that Irish program. Definitely a family there, I would definitely be interested.”

He’s not in a rush to bring the process to a close or even narrow his list just yet.

“I’ll definitely play that first session of EYBL with the college coaches. After that, I’ll probably cut my list and figure it out after that.”