Williams opens the spring period for Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE – East Kentwood, Mich., forward Quistelle Williams is the first signee of the spring National Letter of Intent period for the University of Arkansas’ women’s basketball team, Lady Razorback coach Tom Collen announced this week. A 6-0 post for East Kentwood High School this past season, Williams is considered one of the top prep basketball players in the state of Michigan. “Quistelle is extremely athletic and a great scorer and rebounder,” Collen said. “She’s versatile enough to play either forward position.” Williams averaged 16.4 ppg and 10 rpg this season as the top scorer for the EKHS Falcons, with a season-high and team-leading 29 points against Muskegon. “We are very excited to add her to our recruiting class,” Collen added. “We feel she is the best prospect in the state of Michigan for the Class of 2008.” Collen isn’t alone in that assessment as Detroit Free Press prep columnist Mick McCabe called Williams “one of the most talented players” in Michigan. Based on Williams’ transfer to East Kentwood, the Free Press had the Falcons a preseason third in the state’s Class B. Earlier in the fall, All-Star Girls’ Basketball Report put Williams in its national top 250 recruits. “She may be one of the least heralded players in our current recruiting class because she did not play on the summer circuit with a high-profile club team,” Collen said. “She is every bit as talented as any player in our fall signing class that was ranked top 25.” Williams joins five high school prospects signed by Arkansas during the November early period: Ashley Daniels, a 6-2 forward from Coldwater, Miss.; Julie Inman, a 5-9 guard from Carlisle, Ark.; Lyndsay Harris, a 5-9 guard from Hoover, Ala.; Ceira Ricketts, a 5-9 point guard from Louisville, Ky.; and Jamesha Townsend, a 6-2 forward from Chula Vista, Calif. This past season for East Kentwood, Williams scored in double digits in every game she played except one, and was the Falcons’ leading scorer in almost three-fourths of the 20-game season. On several occasions, Williams half of her team’s total points, including her EKHS career best of 29 as the Falcons’ picked up 59 points as a team against Muskegon. Along with her scoring, Williams was one of the team’s top assist-makers with six per game. She also blocked four shots per game as a senior. The 29 points equals her junior season best as a player for Grand Rapids, Mich., Ottawa Hills High. She averaged 14 ppg, 10 rpg and 6 apg for Ottawa as a junior. A starter at the varsity level since her freshman season, she began her career as the starting point guard for Ottawa Hills before moving to a forward slot as a junior and senior. The 6-0 forward pulled down a senior season high 12 rebounds with 19 points against Jenison, again scoring well over the team’s points. Williams made her best run at a triple-double against West Ottawa with 18 points, nine boards and six assists. In addition to her local recognition, Williams was among the players nominated from the state of Michigan for the McDonald’s All-America game. Williams is a three-time all-conference and three-time all-area selection. She participated in several regional leagues, including earning MVP honors in a local exposure league for up-and-coming players last summer. Williams is the first high school player from the state of Michigan to sign at Arkansas for women’s basketball. While Williams is the sixth overall signee for Collen, the Lady’Back head coach indicated that Arkansas was not finished recruiting for the 2008-09 season. The Lady’Backs lost three seniors and one letterwinner off a team of only nine scholarship athletes that went 17-13 this past season.