Williams eschews Iowa, ISU; signs with UW-Milwaukee

Former Cedar Rapids Kennedy standout and Kirkwood Community College sophomore Kaylon Williams said Monday he has verbally committed to play basketball next yeat at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Williams was an all-Missouri Valley Conference freshman last season at Evansville, but decided to transfer and return home to Kirkwood for a year. He helped the Eagles to a third-place finish last month at the NJCAA Division II national tournament.

He said he hit it off immediately with UW-Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter and his assistants.

"It was a deal where once I visited, I knew right away," Williams said.

The 6-foot-3 Williams said he also had offers from Iowa State and Kent State. He said he found out Monday that new Iowa coach Fran McCaffery wanted to speak to him as well, but he will not be a Hawkeye.

"The decision has already been made," Williams said.

Williams thanked his family and Kirkwood Coach Doug Wagemester for their support.

"It was a real good experience this year," he said. "But now I'm ready to get back on the big stage."