Baylor basketball has taken a significant step forward on the recruiting trail with the recent additions of Elijah Williams and Andre Iguodala II (Jr), which analysts call a pivotal moment for Scott Drew’s program. Monty played in the NBA from 1994 to 2003 and later coached the Pelicans, Suns, and Pistons.
Meanwhile, Iguodala II, a 6-foot-7 forward and three-star prospect per 247Sports, chose Baylor over an offer from Northern Arizona. He also showed interest in Arizona—his father’s alma mater—and Cal, before opting to join the Big 12 powerhouse.
Top Analyst Calls Baylor’s Elijah Williams and Andre Iguodala Jr Signings a Game-Changer
Analyst Pete Sousa highlighted a significant shift in Baylor basketball’s recruiting strategy during his “Pete Sousa Show,” calling the recent commitments of Williams and Andre Iguodala Jr. a game-changer for the program.
Sousa emphasized that Baylor, under Scott Drew, is moving toward a different type of player profile, focusing more on development than chasing the typical one-and-done five-star recruits.
Sousa noted that Baylor has long been admired for attracting top talent and developing NBA-caliber players, citing stars like VJ Edgecomb, a future top NBA draft pick. However, the program appears to be recalibrating its recruitment approach in response to the evolving college basketball landscape shaped by NIL and other factors. Sousa explained,
“Baylor is not actually going after that typical one-and-one, five-star guy. Look no further than Elijah Williams. Now, he is a four-star recruit from San Antonio, Texas. Monty Williams is his dad.”
According to Sousa, Williams is a highly ranked prospect — 36th overall by ESPN — whose skills embody a fundamentally sound game rather than explosive athleticism.
“He thrives at the free throw line. He’s a skilled post scorer for a wing, terrific positional rebounding ability, straight line driver who can make shots on all three levels,” Sousa detailed. “He understands the basics: boxing out, footwork, moving the ball, and cutting.”
This “basic” but effective skill set reflects the type of player Baylor is targeting as part of its cultural shift.
The same development-focused approach applies to Iguodala Jr., whose father is a future Hall of Famer. Sousa recalled Iguodala Sr.’s elite athleticism and his famous dunk contest moments, but pointed out that his son’s recruitment is less about immediate payoffs.
“This is not a race to the bank for these guys,” Sousa said, emphasizing a cultural change within Baylor’s program.
He praised Scott Drew’s integrity, quoting Monty Williams:
“Coach Drew is a man that I’ve watched for years as a coach and a man of integrity. He mprioritized Elijah, whichmeant the world to me.”
KEEP READING: Who Are the Parents of Baylor Commit Elijah Williams? Inside His Basketball Roots
Overall, Sousa sees Baylor’s recruitment as “going back to the basics” with a “tactile approach” that balances elite talent like five-star prospect Tundday Yafu with players who fit the system culturally and developmentally. This strategic shift, he argues, could lead to sustained success, distinguishing Baylor’s approach in the modern college basketball era.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
