College basketball analyst Dick Vitale watched Roy Williams’ press conference live on ESPN on Thursday night.
“I thought it was fantastic,” Vitale said Friday in a phone interview. “What Roy did shows there is some loyalty yet in sports.”
Williams, as you know, declined an offer to coach at his alma mater, North Carolina, citing loyalty to his Kansas basketball players.
“Loyalty is something lacking in sports today. It’s fantastic the message he sent to young people,” Vitale said.
“North Carolina called, asking him to return to his mecca. Yet he turned it down out of loyalty to his players. It speaks volumes for Kansas and the program. Now you must say Naismith, Allen and Williams in talking about Kansas.”
Vitale never thought Williams would say no to Carolina.
“I was shocked. I thought it was a lock he’d move on with all his ties to North Carolina,” Vitale said, “with his wife, Wanda (from Carolina), his daughter (Kimberly) going to school there and son (Scott) there.
“It’s such an unbelievably beautiful place to live. He loves golf so much. It’s a golf mecca there. I thought he’d go.”
Now that he’s staying, Williams may find recruiting much easier than before.
In the past, rival recruiters have told high school players Williams would leave KU for North Carolina once Bill Guthridge called it quits.
“The message is loud and clear: If you play for Roy Williams he’s there for the close (of his career),” Vitale said. “I thought in the press conference he showed his real passion and love for people in Kansas and the Kansas family. It will be conveyed and communicated to young athletes.”
The timing couldn’t be better for Kansas.
Today starts a month-long evaluation period for high school recruiting. The adidas camp is underway in Teaneck, N.J.
“The negative recruiting that may have been used against Kansas cannot be used again,” recruiting analyst Mike Sullivan said before heading to the adidas camp.
“Roy made his statement last night he is at Kansas and will be there the remainder of his career. It will eliminate any opportunity for coaches to pound away at kids and say his favorite job is North Carolina.
“His staying will only make Kansas stronger. He is one of the few coaches out there who can actually go up to kids (recruits) and say, ‘I kept my promise.’
“I do not know Roy Williams,” Sullivan added, “but the man’s actions say a lot. When he retires and is golfing you have to write: ‘Roy was one who kept his word.'”
As far as specific recruits, KU will now continue to be in the running for Portland prep guard Aaron Miles, California shooting guard Josh Childress, Halstead power forward Dennis Latimore, California center Jamal Sampson, and others.
Prep pleased: Latimore, 6-foot-8, 235, told Insider’s Report he’s happy Williams is staying.
“I think it is good. It’s good for the fans and the university. I think he made a good decision.”
Latimore’s current list: KU, Arizona, Kansas State, Arizona State, USC, Iowa State, Missouri, Texas, Georgetown, Syracuse, UCLA and Kentucky.
“I will still look at Kansas the same as I did before,” Latimore told Russ Blake. “They are in the mix, but I don’t have a favorite school right now.”
Updated list: Chad Bell, 6-11 of Los Angeles, gave All Star Report a list of Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, New Mexico, Michigan, Arizona, Syracuse, USC, and Mississippi State. He said he will definitely visit KU this fall, plus Kentucky, New Mexico and two other schools.
Rising stock: David Lee, 6-8 from St. Louis, told analyst Michael Kruse that KU jumped on his list since Williams’ announcement:
“Had he left, that would’ve hurt Kansas. I like coach Williams a lot as a coach. It’s a great feeling to know he’s loyal. And Kansas has a great basketball tradition. But the coach is very important to me it’s the main factor for me.”
Childress concerned: Josh Childress, 6-6 from Lakewood, Calif., is considering KU, UNC, Stanford and Arizona.
“I think it was a good decision on (Williams’) part,” he told analyst Kruse. “He stayed loyal to his family and his players.
“It doesn’t really affect me at all. But it does concern me. The new coach (at UNC) may not want me. But hopefully someone steps in and keeps recruiting me.”
Another fan: Jason Carter, 6-8 from Las Vegas, told PacWest Hoops that UCLA and Arizona are leading the recruiting war with Texas, USC, Minnesota, Xavier and Villanova.
“Kansas is there, too, depending on what Roy does,” Carter told Tracy Pierson before Friday’s press conference.
Doherty speaks: After hearing Williams was staying at KU, Notre Dame coach Matt Doherty told the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune, “You get 16,400 (fans) every game. You’re talking about 16,400 during Christmas break for a mid-major (opponent) in bad weather. It’s the best job in the league. It could be one of the top five jobs in the country. Lawrence is a great college town.”
Gooden speaks: Sophomore-to-be Drew Gooden said, “I’m relieved it’s over with, this madness. This week has been really stressful. It says a lot about him that he’s staying. He just can’t leave his players like that. We just went over the top in respect for him.”