DJ Williams Returns To Illini Men’s Basketball Team
Illini D.J. Williams on the court in February 2016 against Iowa. Rob McColley/Illinois Public Media
Illinois head coach John Groce announced today that Illini sophomore forward DJ Williams has returned to practice, and will be ready to play against Maryland Saturday evening.
Williams was absent from Wednesday's game against Michigan, prompting speculation on social media that he may have left the team with the intention of transferring.
If #Illini wing DJ Williams ends up leaving that's a big "what could have been". We're talking about the No. 78 recruit in the country.
— Gordon Voit (@GordonVoit) January 12, 2017
Groce reiterated Friday that Williams's absence was personal, and that Groce supported Williams's decision, saying "some things are more important than basketball."
Groce declined to discuss specifics of the absence.
Williams is a graduate of Chicago's Simeon High School. Barring further roster changes, he would be the only Chicago product on next year's Illini roster.
Current Illinois senior guard Jaylon Tate is also a Simeon graduate.