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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Long Beach State Signs Dixie JC
All-American Rudy Williams--(April 14, 1999)

Long Beach State Head Men’s Basketball Coach Wayne Morgan has announced the signing of Rudy Williams (6'-9" Jr. C/F) to a National Letter Of Intent. Williams was a pre-season JC All-America selection at Dixie Junior College in St. George, Utah. He averaged 12.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.5 steals per game while shooting .526 from the field last year in leading Dixie to a 28-9 record and a sixth place finish at the 1999 National Junior College Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. Williams was named to the all-tournament team at the National JC Tournament after averaging 13.3 points per game. Dixie lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Indian Hills, 72-65. In that game Williams had 17 points and five rebounds. In a 72-40 win over Essex County (NJ) he tallied 16 points and six rebounds and in their 63-47 win over Southern Union he had 12 points and four rebounds. Williams finished seventh in the region in rebounding and third in blocked shots last season. A first team All-Scenic West Athletic Conference selection, Williams was a first team Region 18 selection and was named to the all-tournament team at the Region 18 Tournament.

Williams is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from Voshon High School. He averaged 14.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and shot 59.7 from the field as a freshman at Dixie. Dixie was 28-5 that year and fell in the Region 18 championship game on a last-second 3-pointer. He finished 14th in the conference in rebounding and was named to the Region 18 All-Tournament team and was selected second team All-Region.

Williams should be an immediate impact player for the 49'ers, but then we've heard that before. Hopefully, unlike Ugonna, this one will actually show up in the fall. With only one graduating senior, D'Cean Bryant (6'-6" Sr. F)--Travon's older brother--the 49'ers could have the makings of a pretty good squad next season with a lot of experienced players returning, not to mention James Wright (6'-0" Sr. PG) from Manual Arts, who earlier verballed to the 49'ers but who has yet to send his LOI.

Congratulations to the 49'ers on a great pickup.