Playing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida is no easy feat, but that is the price that Class of 2018, Power Forward, Emmitt Williams has to pay to accomplish his goal of making it to the NBA. “It feels like I’m already at college, [playing at IMG]. It feels like I’m already at college and I’m only a sophomore so it’s like when I get to college it’s gonna be the same thing. IMG prepares me for the real world out there.” Williams explained. Williams transferred to IMG Academy this past October in hopes of making it to the next level, and so far, it has paid off as Williams scholarship offers begin to pile up, picking up offers from Florida State and Vanderbilt in the last few months. “I’m looking for a place to call home again because I live at IMG which is where I also call home, so I’m looking for a school that I can call home and be comfortable with.” said Williams on his recruiting process.

 

Although only a Sophomore, Emmitt Williams’ recruitment has certainly picked up of late, but it is clear that he won’t be satisfied until he receives attention from the best of the best: “[I’m hoping to] get offers from Kansas and Kentucky,” William said, “Those are two schools that have had a lot of history. I have always liked Kansas because of Andrew Wiggins, who I feel that I play like.” Despite praising Wiggins’ game, Williams develops his game from the styles of other NBA superstars: “I try to model my game after Kevin Durant. So, that’s how I work on my shot, but people say that I play like Amar’e Stoudemire.” said Williams. After speaking with his teammate and fellow Five Star Prospect, Jonathan Isaac (2016), there is no doubt that Williams will stop at nothing to make it to the top, as Isaac said, “He is determined, he works hard and never hesitates to ask questions about how he can improve.”

 

This past fall, Williams left Lehigh Senior High School (Lehigh Acres, FL) to join IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) in hopes of taking his game to new heights: “What made me leave was that when life offers you better opportunities to do other things with your life, you take it because you never know when it might be there again.” explained the former Lehigh Power Forward on his decision to transfer. Since joining IMG, Williams has certainly made a national impact, culminating with his #11 ranking in the ESPN 25, ranking the top players in the Class of 2018, but for Williams, that’s not enough. “The rankings go in one ear and out the other because I’m not number one in the country which means that I’m not working as hard as that first person. Right now, my goal is to get to number one.” said Williams.     

 

Certainly Williams has excelled at IMG Academy, but there are also downfalls to his transfer. “At IMG, I don’t have the chance to see my family very often. Texting and calling are the only way that I can communicate with them. The only time that I can see my family is when we have spring break vacation and other breaks like that, so this last Thanksgiving I didn’t even get to have dinner with my family.” he explained before quickly clarifying himself, “Well, that’s not fully true because IMG is my family also.”

A family atmosphere is something that is very important to Williams when he looks for a college: “I’m looking for a place to call home again because I live at IMG which is where I also call home, so I’m looking for a school that I can call home and be comfortable with.”

 

With a few years left in high school, the recruiting process underway, and a great atmosphere at IMG around him, Emmitt Williams should continue to develop into a star. If one thing is for sure, Emmitt Williams is a player to look out for in the Class of 2018. He is truly coming home.