BYU Basketball’s ‘Sales Pitch’ Impressed Rudi Williams To Sign

PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball received good news when they landed a commitment from Rudi Williams.

Williams comes to BYU via Coastal Carolina, where he was one of the nation’s top three-point shooters a season ago, knocking down 45% of his three-point attempts. Before Coastal, Williams played a season in the Big 12 Conference at Kansas State.

At 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, Williams gives BYU basketball a veteran in a backcourt that lost Alex Barcello and Te’Jon Lucas. Williams is a fifth-year college basketball player, and has another year of eligibility thanks to the free year from the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-21 season.

Williams joined KSL Sports’ Cougar Sports Saturday on KSL NewsRadio to discuss his decision to commit to Mark Pope’s BYU basketball program. Here are some of Williams’ quotes to questions during the interview.

Why BYU for Rudi Williams?

“I chose BYU because I felt the family environment the minute I got on the campus. I had a really good relationship with all the staff members, you know, obviously, Coach Pope, he led my recruitment. And, you know, I just fell in love with the opportunity and their sales pitch to me and I just felt like it was the right thing to do, and I went with my heart.”

The sales pitch from BYU’s coaching staff

“Pretty much the coaches, they just showed me how they could get me better and how they could develop me over my one year and you know, while winning games, and helping the team, but helping me at the same time. I fell in love with that. It wasn’t really much to it, it was a basketball decision and that’s how I wanted it to be.”

🗣 #BYU guard Rudi Williams (@Rueadale) was impressed with BYU’s coaching staff.#BYUHoops @kslsports

🎧➡️: https://t.co/9oMSsoxtLG
pic.twitter.com/jHwLaVFLjS

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) May 7, 2022

What were you looking for in your final destination in college?

“I was really looking for, you know, a school where I could showcase my talent and then have an opportunity on a bigger stage, which would also place myself in having the opportunity to play in the March Madness tournament. That’s something I haven’t done before, and you know, that’s one of my main goals. So that obviously comes with winning. BYU, you know, they have a tradition of doing that. Coach Pope and his staff have done an excellent job over his first three years there in Provo. So I feel like I want to help add on to that.”

What questions did you have for BYU’s staff during your visit?

“Kind of just their vision for me and where they could see me fitting in and helping the team, my role, and things of that nature. But then we sat down during my visit, and I had a meeting with all of the coaching staff and they broke it down probably the best out of all the schools that recruited me. They broke it down to a tee how they were going to help me develop and the vision for me with the team. So that’s what I appreciated the most; they didn’t lie to me. They were really blunt with me. And that was what, you know, appreciated the most.”

Improved three-point shooting

“Honestly, I stayed in the gym. The days when I didn’t want to go, I went, and I kind of just built a confidence that way, you know, staying in the gym and getting a whole lot of shots up and just constantly working on my game. So by the time November kicked around, we got to the season, and the work was already done. You know, I just had to go out there and show it. I would just say that pretty much.”

You don’t gotta like it but you gon feel it…CougNation let’s Roc🐱🔵 #Committed pic.twitter.com/1V3Ke7To5K

— Rudi Williams (@Rueadale) May 7, 2022

What did you know about BYU basketball before they reached out?

“When BYU reached out, all I could really think about was when I was in middle school, that was around the time when Jimmer Fredette was, you know, he had the world in a chokehold with a crazy March Madness run. I just remembered that was probably like when I got into and started following college basketball. He was probably one of the first people I could remember as a young basketball player.”

How did you get Cosmo lined up for your official visit pictures?

“Shout out Coach Pope and shoutout Coach Fueger; they pulled some strings. I showed up for my photoshoot on my visit and Cosmo was waiting for me. You know, it’s kind of crazy because even before the whole me entering the transfer portal thing, I knew who Cosmo was, and I followed him on social media and stuff like that. So it was pretty cool to see him in person. That was one of my special requests when I was on my visit that I asked to be done.”

#BYU basketball guard Rudi Williams (@Rueadale) said on @kslnewsradio he is a fan of @byu_cosmo and he requested to take his official visitor pics with #BYU's beloved mascot. 🤙#BYUHoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/Gmx1GiotvX

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 7, 2022

Are you planning to recruit other Transfer Portal athletes to join you at BYU?

“I think I committed about 48 minutes ago, and I’ve already put on my recruiting hat and I’m already doing my work, so the staff, they’ve got to hire me. …I appreciate you guys; thank you. I’m so excited. Go Cougs!”

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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