LSU’s Williams to Declare for NBA Draft

John Williams, the former Crenshaw High School basketball star who led Louisiana State to the Final Four last month, announced Tuesday that he is giving up his final two years of college and will be available for the NBA draft.

Williams, a 6-foot 8-inch forward, made his decision 10 days before the NBA deadline for college players to declare themselves eligible for the draft.

“I’m doing today one of the most painful things I ever did in my life,” Williams said. “I’m resigning from LSU to pursue a professional basketball career. I am doing it for one reason and one reason only--I have to help support my mother and grandmother.”

Williams averaged just below 18 points and 9 rebounds a game last season, even though he was hospitalized with chicken pox at mid-season and weakened by a virus at NCAA tournament time.