The battle for A.J. Williams is officially arriving one year earlier than expected.
Williams, previously ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the 2028 recruiting class, told ESPN’s Paul Biancardi that he will reclassify into 2027. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard will enter the updated SC Next 100 at No. 7 overall, immediately making him one of the premier recruits available in an already loaded cycle.
Duke, North Carolina, Auburn, BYU, UConn, Georgia, Illinois, Georgia Tech and Mississippi State are the nine programs Williams is currently considering. He plans to arrange official visits during the fall.
That list guarantees another fascinating recruiting fight between several national powers.
A.J. Williams proved he was ready for the challenge
Williams is not moving up simply to speed through high school.
His performance against older competition demonstrated that he could handle the change. After moving from the 16U level to 17U with CP3 on the Nike EYBL circuit, Williams became the only player at Peach Jam to average at least 20 points and eight rebounds while shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line, according to Cerebro Sports data cited by ESPN.
That production helped Williams reach his decision.
“I put in the hard work, and felt ready to accelerate the process,” Williams told ESPN.
Williams added that playing against members of the 2027 class showed him he was not merely capable of competing with those players. He believed he had established himself as one of the best prospects in their class.
The move also accelerates his professional timeline. Williams, who turned 17 on June 28, will now be eligible for the 2028 NBA Draft. ESPN projects him as a potential lottery pick.
Duke and North Carolina have another major recruiting battle
Williams possesses the size of a wing with the scoring ability of a guard. His physicality, maturity and experience against elite competition could allow him to make an immediate impact at the college level.
That explains the impressive collection of programs pursuing him.
Duke and North Carolina are both chasing another potential one-and-done star. UConn offers the opportunity to play for one of the sport’s strongest modern programs, while Auburn, BYU and Illinois have shown they can attract elite talent and build highly competitive rosters.
The local options should not be dismissed, either. Williams attends Eagles Landing Christian Academy in Georgia, leaving Georgia and Georgia Tech with a chance to sell staying close to home. Mississippi State also gives Williams another SEC option.
There is no reported favorite at this point, making his upcoming official visits especially important.
The 2027 class just became even more competitive
Williams’ decision does more than introduce another five-star prospect into the 2027 recruiting cycle. It places a possible future NBA lottery pick into a class already attracting enormous attention from college basketball’s biggest brands.
Programs that believed their 2027 recruiting boards were beginning to take shape must now account for a player who was the best prospect in the class behind them.
His departure also creates movement atop the 2028 rankings. ESPN reported that 7-foot-1 center Yann Kamagate will rise from No. 2 to No. 1 in that class.
Williams, meanwhile, can begin concentrating on a recruitment that suddenly carries much more urgency. His college decision once appeared to be years away. Now, nine programs must prepare to make their best pitch this fall for one of the most talented guards in the country.
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