Even though ASU was 'perfect fit' for Brandon Williams, Arizona Wildcats tugged at him

Brandon Williams’ final three schools were Arizona, Gonzaga and Oregon but, the way his stepfather put it, the Wildcats really just beat out ASU.

How’d that work? If UA fans cringed at thought of Williams heading to ASU after decommitting from Arizona, Williams felt something similar.

“If it wasn’t for Arizona, that’s probably where he would have gone,” Williams' stepfather, Chris Wright, said of ASU. “It was a perfect fit for him over there. (Coach Bobby Hurley) let’s those guards play. But after that trip, Brandon was like `Man, I just can’t do it. It’s just too close.’ “

So Williams kept considering Gonzaga and Oregon after his ASU visit, having decided he needed to reconsider Arizona after ESPN reported on Feb. 23 that UA coach Sean Miller discussed a pay-for-play scheme (a report Miller denied a day before Williams decommitted on March 2).

“At the time of the decommitment, what made us really want to look around was not the initial FBI inquiry, but when that second report came out,” Wright said. “That triggered a thought that ‘Maybe it’s time to step out and take a look around.’ “

Wright said Miller soon after visited to explain his side of things, while the family kept looking elsewhere. Williams visited Oregon the weekend of April 14 and Gonzaga the weekend of April 28 before taking another week to announce his decision.

“It was really a close call, up until he woke up Saturday morning,” Wright said. “All these schools had a lot to offer in their own individual way. He had three paths to achieve his goals. You had Gonzaga, where there’s a foundation and they’re primed for the Final Four. Oregon has that great class coming in along with some veterans and at Arizona he can slide in and be able to run things.”

Wright said Miller told Williams he would be used as a primary ballhandler and that he would be shifting to a more guard-oriented offense, now that 7-footers Deandre Ayton and Dusan Ristic are gone.

Because of his late decision, Williams will be quickly initiated in Tucson. Wright said Williams will graduate on May 24 and be at Arizona in time to participate in the first summer session during the first week of June.

Jon Wilner takes a look at Williams' decision through a broad Pac-12 lens.

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