TicketsJune 8, 2006
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CINCINNATI, Ohio - Mike Williams, a former McDonald's All-American and a reserve forward at the University of Texas the past two seasons, is transferring to the University of Cincinnati to continue his basketball and academic career.
Williams, who has signed a grant-in-aid offer, will enroll at UC this summer. Because of NCAA transfer restrictions, he will have to sit out the 2006-07 season but will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, beginning in 2007-08.
"Mike is a first-class person from a wonderful family. He is the kind of person and player that I want to have wearing the red and black," stated UC head coach Mick Cronin.
"Mike has gained big-time playing experience at Texas and that will serve him well when he is able to play here. He is a very athletic forward that will benefit from our style of play. I look forward to working with Mike this year and getting him ready for the 2007-08 season."
A 6-7, 230-pound forward, Williams played in 32 games for the Longhorns last season, making three starts. He averaged 2.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per contest. He earned Academic All-Big 12 second team honors.
As a freshman in 2004-05, Williams played in 26 games, making one start. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game. In 58 career games, he averaged 2.7 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Williams earned McDonald's All-American recognition as a senior at Wilcox Central High School in Camden, Ala. He was a third team All-American choice by Parade Magazine and garnered honorable mention All-American honors from Slam Magazine. A two-time Alabama Class 5A Player of the Year, Williams averaged 28 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks as a senior.
Williams is the seventh member of the Bearcats' recruiting class. Previous signees are Tim Crowell, a 6-2 guard who averaged 7.5 assists at Midland College en route to first team all-league honors last season; Marvin Gentry, a 6-3 guard who was the conference's player of the year at McLennan Community College; Marcus Sikes, a 6-8 forward who averaged a double-double (13.1 points, 11.3 rebounds) last season at Mt. San Jacinto College; Deonta Vaughn, a two-time first team all-state performer from Indianapolis who finished his high school career at Harmony Community School in Cincinnati; Jamual Warren, an NJCAA second team All-American at the Globe Institute of Technology; and John Williamson, a 6-6 forward who was a first team All-American selection at Cincinnati State.