Published Jan 19, 2018
Making the case: Much-hyped sensation Zion Williamson
Eric Bossi  •  Basketball Recruiting
National Analyst
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MORE: Rivals150 for 2018 | Bossi, Evans discuss players that Williamson compares to

One of the most talked about players in Rivals.com history, 2018's No. 3-ranked player Zion Williamson will make his college choice Saturday night.

Easily one of the most popular high school athletes that we've ever covered, due to his freakish athleticism and impressive highlight reels, the South Carolina native is a social media and YouTube star who is looking to take his game to the next level.

Down to a final six of Clemson, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina, Williamson must choose between staying home to build his legacy or leaving his home state to play for a traditional power.

His decision is set to be made at his high school during an 8 p.m. press conference on Saturday. Today, our basketball team takes a look at why each of his finalists could be the best fit for him before National Basketball Analyst Eric Bossi makes his prediction.

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THE CASE FOR CLEMSON

"Often times, prospects like Williamson will leave their home state for blueblood programs. But if there is a situation where it makes sense to go against the grain, then Clemson is that situation. The intimidating and explosive forward has always been about doing things on his own accord, and with the recent spike in success at Clemson and his link to the program (his stepfather, Lee Anderson, played for the Tigers in the 1980s), Clemson makes sense.

"Williamson has always been about representing his native state. Unlike other five-star recruits, he decided to finish his high school career where he started at Spartanburg Day School and his travel team, outside of a hiatus during his junior summer, was always one with South Carolina in the name. Clemson is a program on the rise and the Tigers have done what they can to see that Williamson sees it and that the makeup of their team is one that is appealing to him. Clemson was the first Power Five conference school to offer him, they are close to home and it's a place where he could go and become a one-of-a-kind legend." - Corey Evans, Rivals.com national basketball analyst

THE CASE FOR DUKE

"Duke is always in the mix for the best of the best when it comes to basketball prospects. Mike Krzyzewski currently has the top two prospects in the 2018 class committed in R.J. Barrett and Cameron Reddish. The Blue Devils also have the nation's top-ranked point guard in Tre Jones. Adding Williamson to the mix would give the Blue Devils the top three players in the class of 2018. That's something that has never been done before.

"Outside of John Calipari, there isn’t a coach who has as much experience coaching potential one-and-done talents like Williamson as Coach K. At Duke, Williamson could likely play as a four man who has shooters around him and the freedom to face the basket and attack off the dribble. Their up-and-down style of play would also fit, and because of guys like Barrett and Reddish around him and the tradition at Duke, there wouldn't be pressure to carry a program to new levels." Dan McDonald, Rivals.com contributing analyst

THE CASE FOR KANSAS

"Making the move to play for Kansas would allow Williamson to get out of his comfort zone, and that could be a huge aid in the process of growing up and preparing for the nomadic lifestyle of an NBA player. Under Bill Self, the Jayhawks have also proven that they are willing to cater their style to their talent, and Self is selling the hybrid, four- man role similar to the one that former Rivals.com No. 1 player Josh Jackson played during his year in Lawrence.

"Having guys to help space the floor around him is going to be important for Williamson, and the Jayhawks have been loaded with shooters the past few years and figure to continue that trend. Williamson could also be part of a recruiting class that could be among the best in school history, considering that it already includes three McDonald's All-Americans in Quentin Grimes, Devon Dotson and David McCormack." Krysten Peek, Rivals.com basketball video director

THE CASE FOR KENTUCKY

"There is no clearer or quicker path to the NBA for a college prospect than selecting Kentucky. John Calipari has become the don of the one-and-done era, thanks to his constant churning of talent from Lexington into the League. The Wildcats will likely lose Kevin Knox to the NBA, opening a spot for Williamson to fill immediately upon his arrival.

"In Lexington, Williamson could have room to roam because of the shooters around him, including Tyler Herro, Keldon Johnson and Immanuel Quickely, in addition to a healthy Jemarl Baker. Toss in the fact that Williamson has always enjoyed playing on the biggest of stages, fits Calipari’s up-and-down system and that he would be playing alongside his good friend Quickley, there are many more pros than cons when it comes to picking the Wildcats on Saturday." - Corey Evans, Rivals.com national basketball analyst

THE CASE FOR NORTH CAROLINA

"North Carolina has always been able to dip into South Carolina and find talent, and it offers Williamson a bit of the best of both worlds when it comes to blueblood pedigree and being able to play relatively close to home on a regular basis.

"Roy Williams has probably spent more time focusing on Williamson's long-term future than he has on what he can do to help Williamson get to the NBA as fast as possible. Maybe that has struck a nerve. The Tar Heels have a pair of McDonald's All-American five-stars coming to play in combo forward Nassir Little and combo guard Coby White, and those two could help to deflect some of the monster expectations that will be on Williamson no matter where he lands." Krysten Peek, Rivals.com basketball video director

THE CASE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA

"South Carolina is coming off one of the most impressive postseason runs in school history after the Gamecocks made it to the Final Four in 2017. What better way to make a splash than to stay home and become a signature recruit and face of a program that is on the rise while immediately becoming a legend in your home state?

"Frank Martin’s squad has fought its way to a 3-3 start in SEC play with a huge home victory over Kentucky, and it feels like the program is starting to build a lot of momentum. Adding class of 2017 five-star wing Brian Bowen last week could also prove to be a factor here, as it gives Williamson a sidekick should he choose to take his talents to Columbia. Columbia is close to home, Williamson's rugged and athletic style is a fit for the way Martin coaches, and playing for the Gamecocks would show that he's not afraid to blaze his own trail and do something unexpected." Dan McDonald, Rivals.com contributing analyst

THE VERDICT

"Coming out of the summer, Kansas was considered by many the team to beat for Williamson, and I think that was mostly speculation. Then during the fall the attention turned to Kentucky because of the personal attention paid to Williamson by Calipari. Now as we are hours away from Williamson's decision, Clemson has been getting most of the buzz.

"Because he's always stayed local, never transferred to a national power high school and stuck with his friends during travel ball, representing his home state means a lot to Williamson. I also think carving out a legacy at a place that will always remember him for being the one guy to stay home instead of being one in a long-running parade of one-and-done stars is important to him.

"The ability to truly be the man from day one and play in a system that will likely be catered completely around his strengths and weaknesses is important, and I don't think there's anywhere that better fits all of that than Clemson. Given the fit, the proximity to home and that the majority of the buzz leading up to his decision has been heading the way of Brad Brownell's Tigers, my prediction is that Williamson bypasses the bluebloods and stays home to play at Clemson. If not Clemson, my sleeper pick would be North Carolina. The rumor mill is going to really crank up over the final 24 hours - like it always does." Eric Bossi, Rivals.com, national basketball analyst

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