The Essentials: 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward for Cleveland Benedictine and TNBA Elite

The Schools: Indiana has offered and Akron, Central Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Virginia Tech have expressed interest.

The Leaders: Indiana, with the scholarship offer to Williams last fall at Hoosier Hysteria, is considered to be one of the Ohio native’s early favorites.

The Numbers: 13 points per game at Benedictine, which finished last season with a record of 12-11.

The Ranking: Rivals.com ranks Williams the 67th best prospect in the 2013 class.

The Quote: “The whole experience was great. The tradition speaks volumes. The fans were very involved and everybody loves basketball there. And that’s my love so that place and me, we get along well. The players are cool. It just was a great night. There was a lot of energy in that building.” — Williams to Inside the Hall after last fall’s Hoosier Hysteria.

The Scout Says: “Mark’s body has changed since his freshman year and he has become slimmer and taller. He has solid hands inside and is already a good rebounder and finisher in the paint. He has solid and improving skills. He can score in the low post and can step out to 17 feet and hit face up jumpers. Mark’s a great rebounder. He’s a solid defender in the paint. Solid athlete, good not great.” – ESPN.com on Williams.

The Video:

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Inside the Hall had a chance to catch up recently with 2013 Cleveland Benedictine forward Mark Williams, who attended Hoosier Hysteria last fall and picked up an early offer from Indiana.

Here are a few quotes from the 6-7, 235-pound sophomore as well as some video from CLHTV.com:

On his high school season:

“It’s going pretty well. It’s been a learning experience. I feel like me and my team are learning to play through adversity and with each other which is something we haven’t had to do in the past years. We’re a sophomore and junior dominated team. We have one senior.”

On how his game has progressed during the season:

“I am playing okay, but to my standards, I’m not playing how I should. I feel I can bring more to my team with every aspect of the game. Whether it’s leading, scoring, rebounding, so I’m constantly trying to get better in those areas.”

On his interest in Indiana and his thoughts on the program:

“I still have very high thoughts on the team. Not only because of their athletic ability, but because I’ve talked to those guys. I know what Coach Crean is about. I know what Coach Buckley is about. And when you watch their games, whether they’re winning or losing, the atmosphere is just, you would die for it. Anybody would die to play there. I still have high thoughts about the team.”

On other schools showing interest:

“Wisconsin has shown interest. West Virginia has shown interest. Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Michigan State has shown slight interest. Penn State has been in the gym. Mainly the Big Ten.”

Video after the jump …

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One of the new names to emerge on the IU recruiting radar from Friday’s Hoosier Hysteria was 2013 Cleveland Benedictine forward Mark Williams. The 6-7, 235-pound Williams spoke to Inside the Hall on Monday night about his experience at Hysteria and his interest in the IU program:

On his experience at Hoosier Hysteria

“The whole experience was great. The tradition speaks volumes. The fans were very involved and everybody loves basketball there. And that’s my love so that place and me, we get along well. The players are cool. It just was a great night. There was a lot of energy in that building.”

On how the visit to Bloomington came about

“Coach Tim Buckley came up to open gym. And then two days later, Coach Tom Crean came up. Coach Buckley came up last Monday and Coach Crean came up last Wednesday and then Friday I was down (to Bloomington).”

On his game and style of play

“I am a classic type player. I’m the type that will walk you down to the post, use jump hooks, a very fundamental type person. I recently developed a nice little jumper and have found my perimeter game expanding. I’m trying to be an all-around force.”

On the scholarship offer from Indiana

“Coach Crean did offer me. It’s a funny story because on Friday while my parents and I were talking to him, I guess he offered, but we were like uncertain, so my dad asked Coach Buckley, ‘did he offer us?’ And immediately, like no later than five minutes after, Coach Crean came up to my parents and I and was like, ‘yes, we definitely offered.’”

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