I just had the feeling today that former Terps center Jordan Williams would have something to say. There he was -- all slimmed down -- at Verizon Center working out for Washington Wizards coaches in advance of the NBA draft.
After the television media spoke to Williams, I had a chance to talk to him in a small group. And he did have a message for fans about the circumstances surrounding his departure. Here are some highlights:
--For those of you wondering if Williams noticed the online criticism he received from Terps fans -- some said he wasn't NBA-ready -- the answer is "yes." I can't say that the comments factored into his decision to leave Maryland after his sophomore season. But, yes, he noticed, even if he said the outcry didn't bother him.
"Thats what fans are for. Some of them, they love you or they hate you. You can't really take it too serious. If I was a fan and one of the best players lef,t I'd be upset too," Williams said.
--He said that when he left Maryland in March, he made a contingency plan to return to school by asking his professors for "incompletes." The plan was to return to summer school and make up the coursework. But he said he became convinced he was ready for the next level. You all know that many people believed he never intended on coming back to campus.
--He said he received advice from ESPN broadcaster and Maryland grad Scott Van Pelt, but that Van Pelt didn't steer him one way or the other. "Mr. Van Pelt in no way tried to pursue me to go either way," Williams told me in an e-mail. "He was just giving me advice to help make my decision the best one."
