Martin announces Williams signing

Kansas State head coach Frank Martin announced Friday the signing of high school forward Nino Williams (Leavenworth, Kan./Leavenworth) to a financial aid agreement.

A 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard/forward from Leavenworth, Kan., Williams helped Leavenworth to a 17-8 overall record as a senior in 2009-10, including a No. 7 final ranking by the Kansas City Star. He helped the Pioneers to a berth in the Class 6A state tournament, where they lost to two-time defending state champion Wichita Heights in the semifinals on March 12. Williams averaged a team-leading 20 points and 9.5 rebounds in his final prep season, which included 11 20-point games. He also led the team in scoring on 15 occasions, including a season-high 29 points in the state semifinals. In addition, he led the team in scoring and rebounding as a junior.

Williams, who ranked No. 89 on the Rivals' 150 for 2011 and No. 20 among small forwards, earned numerous honors during his playing career at Leavenworth. This past season, he was selected second team All-State for all classes by the Topeka Capital-Journal and first team Class 6A by both the Capital-Journal and the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA). He will play for the North squad and opposite Wildcat teammate Will Spradling in the KBCA All-Star Game set for Thursday, Aug. 5, at Lee Arena in Topeka.

Williams will receive the final scholarship for the 2010-11 season, in which the Wildcats return five players with starting experience and nine total lettermen. The squad posted a school-record 29 wins and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in 22 seasons in 2009-10. The team has received early preseason Top 10 rankings from ESPN.com, The Sporting News and FOXSports.com.

Williams will be one of five new players for K-State in 2010-11, which includes junior college signees Freddy Asprilla (Villanicencio, Colombia/Florida International) and Juevol Myles (Pickering, Ontario/Tallahassee [Fla.] Community College) and high school guards Shane Southwell (Bronx, N.Y./Rice High School) and Spradling (Overland Park, Kan./Shawnee Mission South High School).