Former Duke guard Elliot Williams has decided to transfer to Memphis to be closer to his family in the city, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. His mother has a serious illness, and the family has not provided details about her condition. Williams received a release from his scholarship last week and quickly decided among the Tigers, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Kentucky.
“It fits perfect, the situation, but you never want to wish this on anybody,” said Williams. “Like I said, if this situation wasn’t happening, we wouldn’t be talking right now. But it did happen, and I just wanted to pick the perfect school. What better way to come back home than to play in front of the people that have been supporting me since high school?”
Williams, a former McDonald’s All-American and Tennessee Division 2-A Mr. Basketball selection, was granted his release by Duke last Wednesday so he could transfer to a school closer to home.
Williams, who averaged 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game as a freshman last season, will look to play next season by asking the NCAA to waive the redshirt year that most transfers must take. With Memphis losing its top four scorers, the Tigers could use Williams’ presence in the backcourt.
