Recordpub.com - KSU men's basketball team loses cherished recruit

Kent State is out of the Dwain Williams sweepstakes.

The former Providence point guard confirmed he intends to play for the University of Hawaii and not the Golden Flashes in a story in Sunday’s Honolulu Advertiser.

That is both good and bad news for KSU.

Williams is a high-major talent who would have fit right in at point guard with Jordan Mincy and Al Fisher, the only two players to play the position for KSU in 2008-09, set to graduate. Waiting for five months to see if the well-traveled transfer actually showed up in Kent, however, may have created a little more drama than the program needed.

Williams has changed his mind over and over again since 2006 — from signing with Miami (Ohio) to playing for Providence three years ago, then supposedly committed to Long Beach State to committing to Oregon State last off-season, then supposedly committing to Kent State to committing to Hawaii this year.

According to several sources close to the KSU men’s basketball program, Williams verbally committed to play for the Flashes several months ago, then re-confirmed his commitment during a visit to Kent in early March.

While Hawaii takes over the waiting game, KSU is now free to pursue other options.

Those options may not include another point guard.

Rod Sherman’s development during a season off to recover from knee surgery has KSU believing the junior may be ready to move from the wing to the point. The Flashes also love the potential of freshman recruit Randal Holt, who may find more time to develop into a Division I point guard now that Williams will not be on KSU’s roster.

Don’t be surprised to see Kent State sign a wing, and most likely one with four years of eligibility, in the not-too-distant future.

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LOSE ONE, ADD ONE — Kent State added 6-foot-10 center Justin Manns to its list of recruits on almost the same day it crossed off Williams’ name.

Manns, who averaged 8.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game last season at Owens Community College, committed to KSU on Saturday.

“It came down to Kent State and Bowling Green,” said Manns. “I visited both, but I thought the atmosphere at Kent State was better for me. I liked the atmosphere there and the chemistry I had with the team and the coaching staff. I went to the game (at the M.A.C. Center) when Kent State played Akron, and I liked the way the crowd was into it.”

Manns said he didn’t start playing organized basketball until his senior year of high school in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“Before that, I was just into video games,” he said. “Any action game, any sports game, I’d play it. But then I started playing basketball, and I liked the reaction I was getting. I liked the praise and the attention.”

Owens said playing defense came naturally to him, “probably because I’m tall and I have long arms.”

“I always had a talent for blocking and altering shots,” he said. “That’s what I love to do. I love to block shots. I’ve had coaches working with me on my offense, so I’ve been growing both offensively and defensively.

“I’m a threat in the paint, defensively, and I’ll get the crowd into the game. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing at Kent State.”

Manns is expected to sign a letter of intent Thursday.

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EDELMAN WORLD TOUR — Interest in KSU quarterback Julian Edelman is heating up as the NFL Draft grows near.

After working out for the Chicago Bears in Kent last Thursday, Edelman was invited to Chicago on Monday to meet with team officials. He will be in Florida to visit with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday and then in San Francisco to workout for the 49ers on Friday.

The New England Patriots were in Kent last week to look at Edelman, who projects as a wide receiver and do-it-all special-teamer in the pros, but could find a niche as a “wildcat” quarterback with some teams.

The NFL Draft will be held on April 25 and 26.

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David Carducci can be reached at dcarducci@recordpub.com