UConn's Williams third Huskies player to leave for 2006 NBA draft!

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STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut point guard Marcus Williams said Tuesday he will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-3 Williams is considered one of the nation's top playmakers. He appeared in 47 games at UConn, starting 31 and averaging 7.3 points and 6.6 assists. But his career was marred by academic problems and an arrest.
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Williams is the third underclassman to announce he will leave UConn early this year, joining junior forward Josh Boone and sophomore swingman Rudy Gay.
Boone is the only one of the three who has said he won't hire an agent, allowing him to possibly return to school next season. He has until June 18 to withdraw from the draft.


Williams missed most of the 2003-04 national championship season because of poor grades, and was suspended from the team for the first half of the 2005-06 season after being charged with trying to sell laptop computers stolen from campus dorm rooms.

He eventually was granted a special form of probation for first-time offenders and will have his criminal records erased if he successfully completes 18 months of probation.

Williams said he tried to turn that experience into something positive.

"I think it made me grow up a lot faster than I wanted to, but I needed it," he said.

Coach Jim Calhoun praised Williams for accepting responsibility for his actions and handling the taunts of opposing fans.
"I just believe 100 percent in Marcus Williams, and he's reinforced that belief every step of the way," Calhoun said.
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This was a lock. He's the top rated PG prospect in the entire draft. He'll be a lottery pick.

Boone and Williams leaving early...I just can't see either player making a big impact ever....This has Scottie Thurmond written all over them.

Jim Calhoun should be use to this though, players leaving his team early in droves the past 3 seasons.

Last year it was Charlie Villanueve, UCONN is another team like Duke, where the college players have not been great NBA impact players for the most part , lots of busts or underachievers coming out of there.

SkinsRaj28 said:

This was a lock. He's the top rated PG prospect in the entire draft. He'll be a lottery pick.

Click to expand...

I just don't see him making a big impact , and certainly not right away.

If they kept on Chuck Villanueve they probably would have won it this year.

Remember when they did win it? They looked like a semi pro team.

My Hoyas could be favored to win the big east next year.

This is the 11th-12th and 13th players to leave there early in Calhoun's era.

Just need Gray to leave so Pitt can take a nice hit...

G-Town should easily be ranked in the top 10 next year with a real shot at the final four.

I guess he should come out due to weak draft this season...


but his impact ???????????????? please, maybe vs. Boykins, but then again Earl would get a quick shot off versus his ass

Journy... I think the 14th is Nelson. I think he left the team to try out for the NFL.

Welcome to the Raptors Mr Williams

Journeyman said:

I just don't see him making a big impact , and certainly not right away.

Click to expand...

He's a pure PG who is a wonderful passer and can really run a team. His J is a little inconsistent, but once he gets that down, I think he'll be a very good PG in the NBA. For the record, I don't particularly like the guy...but he's got game, no doubt. We'll see what happens.

Some guy earlier said lots of "busts" from UCONN. Starting with Cliff Robinson, Donyell, Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Caron Butler...most recently Ben Gordon and Okafor. Wouldn't call that crew a bunch of busts. Hell, even Villanueva had a great rookie year. He'll be 2nd in rookie of year voting and dropped 48 in a game about a month ago.

Gay will be a star. Marcus Williams will be very good. Boone, not so sure. Serviceable, but needs to get tougher.

yeah for some reason i always hate uconn bball players but they all turn out alright in the Pros...i'd hang onto jimmy calhoun for a while if i were them

SkinsRaj28 said:

This was a lock. He's the top rated PG prospect in the entire draft. He'll be a lottery pick.

Click to expand...

Over Rondo? Rondo's shooting game is pretty weak but I think Williams' is worse, and I could make the argument that Rondo is a better pure PG/passer...

Not to mention Foye, who isn't a true 1 but can play it well and can score maybe 100x better than Williams (and Rondo for that matter)

Williams isn't a bad shooter, he's about average, very streaky, but it's his ballhandling and passing that sets him apart...meanwhile Rondo is a TERRIBLE shooter, and doesn't really create for others. He's a lockdown defender, but he hasn't shown the ability to run an offense or lead a team. He's a bigger Eric Snow minus the mediocre J...that's not a good thing. He could develop into a good pro, but right now he's well behind Williams. He's a borderline first rounder at this point, after being a lock for the top 10 at the start of the year.

Foye is an undersized 2. He can't distribute at all or create for others. To ask/expect him to step in and run the show for a team at point right now is outrageous. He could develop into a good PG...but he's a shoot-first, undersized 2 right now.

now that he's not stealing computers, he's doing pretty well...

pags11 said:

now that he's not stealing computers, he's doing pretty well...

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Speaking of which, don't forget about the guy who took the bigger fall for that shit, A.J. Price...all of last season, Calhoun said that Price was the best player on the team. I'm guessing Calhoun figured he'd be losing a lot after this past season and wanted a stud still around for 2007, so he suspended Price and not Williams...it was either/or.