Top-40 Jr. Williams, son of Monty, chooses Baylor

• Jeff Borzello

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• Jeff Borzello ESPN Personnel Writer Basketball recruiting expert.
• Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.Paul Biancardi

Might 27, 2025, 12:30 PM ET

Top-40 junior Elijah Williams, the boy of long time NBA player and coach Monty Williams, announced his commitment to Baylor on Tuesday.Williams picked the

Bears over a list of schools that likewise consisted of Arizona, Notre Dame and Alabama.

“The attention the whole staff gave me, especially head coach Scott Drew,” Williams told ESPN when asked why he selected Baylor. “The calls and texts were extremely constant. The belief they have in me made a big distinction. I like the school and the campus a lot. Coach Drew is wise, caring, amusing and a great basketball coach. He appreciates me as a person, a young man, as well as a basketball player.”

Williams visited Baylor’s campus earlier this month, and Drew and his staff made it clear just how much they desired him in the program.

“Coach Drew is a man that I have actually watched for years, as a coach and as a guy of stability,” Monty Williams stated. “He made Elijah a concern, and that implied the world to me.”

A 6-foot-6 little forward who participates in TMI Episcopal (Texas)– where he plays for his father– Williams is ranked No. 40 in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2026. He has had a strong spring for JL3 on the Nike EYBL circuit, ranking 10th in scoring at 19.8 points per game. He’s shooting much better than 41% from 3-point range through 11 games and is grabbing 5.4 rebounds as well.Williams is a strong player and chauffeur. He grows at the complimentary throw line and is a competent post scorer for a wing, with excellent positional rebounding ability. Williams is an efficient scorer as a straight-line chauffeur who can also make shots at all 3 levels. As the kid of a coach, Williams likewise understands the essentials: boxing out, footwork, moving the ball and cutting.

“I believe it has actually assisted me have fun with no pressure,” Williams said of betting his daddy. “Undoubtedly, you have more eyes on you since of his name, however he’s constantly been my No. 1 fan and told me to trust my work and have fun.”

Williams is the first dedication in the 2026 class for Baylor, although the Bears’ lineup might look totally different in a year. Drew does not have a single player returning from last season, including 4 freshmen and 8 transfers this offseason.

“Nothing is assured, but they see me as a main player as a freshman,” Williams said. “I think there is a fantastic chance to play right away.”