Leartist Williams Jr.
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Scout Report
Five high-major programs have called Mobile, Alabama in the span of two weeks, and the kid they're all chasing hasn't even played a varsity game as an upperclassman yet. Leartist Williams Jr. is 6-7 in the eighth grade mentality and already has Power Four coaches rearranging their recruiting boards. That's not hyperbole — that's just what happens when a 2028 big man shows this kind of early feel.
Background
Williams grew up in Mobile and now suits up for Saraland High School, a program that's quietly becoming a pipeline for Gulf Coast talent. He's still extremely early in his development timeline as a class of 2028 prospect, which makes the frame size and skill level he's already showing even more notable. The AAU circuit has started to take notice, and that exposure is clearly part of why offers are flooding in before he's even played a full high school season. For a kid from a mid-sized Alabama city, this kind of attention at this stage is rare.
Playing Style
At 6-7, Williams already plays with a frame that suggests he'll keep growing into a true combo forward, and he moves well enough right now to suggest the athleticism won't be an issue down the line. He's comfortable facing the basket, which separates him from a lot of young bigs who are purely back-to-basket at this stage. In ball-screen actions he shows an understanding of spacing that's advanced for his age — he's not just standing in the dunker spot waiting for a lob. Defensively, his length lets him bother shots at the rim and contest on the perimeter without completely losing his man, though his instincts there are still developing. He plays with a motor that scouts notice immediately — he's running the floor in transition rather than jogging back, which matters a lot at this position. The overall picture is a modern four who can eventually stretch the floor while still doing work inside.
Strengths
The size-to-skill ratio is the headline here — a 6-7 forward who already shows comfort putting the ball on the floor and making reads out of pick-and-pop situations is rare for his age group. His motor stands out on tape; he's active on both ends and doesn't take possessions off, which coaches value as much as any skill. He's shown flashes of face-up scoring that project well as he adds strength, and his length gives him legitimate defensive versatility against multiple positions.
Areas to Watch
Like most 2028 prospects, strength and physical development are the obvious variables — he'll need to add mass to hold up against bigger, more physical post players as he climbs levels. His perimeter shooting is still unproven at a consistent level, and that's the swing skill that will determine whether he's a traditional four or a true stretch forward. Polishing his defensive rotations and decision-making in pick-and-roll coverage will be the next step as competition level rises.
Player Comparison
His combination of size, face-up comfort, and floor-running ability brings to mind a young Jaren Jackson Jr. — not in terms of current polish, but in the shared blueprint of a long forward who can defend multiple spots while developing perimeter range. That comparison is more about traits and trajectory than production, since Williams is still years away from proving it at a high level. If the shooting continues to come along, that's the archetype he's chasing.
Recruitment
The offer sheet has exploded in a short window — Nebraska came in today, Texas A&M three days ago, Ohio State five days ago, with Sacramento State and Alabama both landing offers in the past two weeks. That's three Power Four programs in under a week, which tells you how quickly word is spreading about this kid. There's no commitment on the table yet, and given he's a 2028 prospect, there's no real timeline pressure — this recruitment is going to play out over years, not months. Alabama's in-state presence makes them worth watching early, but with Big Ten and SEC programs already involved, this one could go in a lot of directions before it's decided.
Projection
The ceiling here is a high-major starter at the four who can eventually defend forward spots and stretch the floor enough to space the lane for guards — that's a legitimate college role if the shooting development hits. The floor, if things stall out physically or skill-wise, is still a rotation big who brings length and effort off the bench. Given how early this is in his development, the range of outcomes is wide, but the traits he's already showing are the kind that keep programs patient.
Updated Oct 12, 2026 · Analysis by PrepRadar Scouting Team