High school basketball in Torrington, Conn., has somewhat of a Hoosiers-like quality to it.

During Tony Turina's 17 seasons as boys varsity coach at Torrington High School, the team has routinely drawn between 1,000-1,500 fans to its home games. In a city of roughly 36,000 people, the Red Raiders are generally “the best ticket in town,” according to Turina.

Jordan Williams, Torrington’s standout senior center, has been the main attraction on the team throughout his high school career. When the 6-foot-9 1/2, 245-pounder committed to Maryland on Monday, it was cause for celebration throughout the area.

“It’s a big deal up here that he’s going to a school like Maryland. It’s been kind of crazy up here,” Turina said. “The local newspaper had him on the front page, going to Maryland. ... Jordan is extremely well known throughout the state. We’re broadcast every night on a radio station. When we play the top teams in the league, it’s on a local TV station. He’s not a mystery. ... He’s really getting excited, and he’s kind of in awe in seeing what he’s always known about the ACC; he’s seeing what this basketball madness is all about. I think he’s tremendously excited about this.”

Williams wowed the Torrington crowds throughout his first three years on the varsity squad. As a 6-foot-4 freshman, he helped the team to a state championship. As a sophomore, the Red Raiders made it to the state semifinals, falling to the eventual champions. Last season, in what was supposed to be somewhat of a ‘rebuilding year,’ according to Turina, Williams averaged 28 points and 16 rebounds per game, leading Torrington to a division championship.

But while Williams was a battle-tested player in Connecticut, it wasn’t until this summer, playing with the New England Playaz AAU program, that high-major Division I programs started taking notice of his talent. Williams’ summer ascent from mid-major prospect to high-major recruit reminded Turina of another post player with Connecticut ties.

“[Emeka] Okafor, who played at UConn. He was a relative unknown until late in his junior year,” Turina said. “He went to one AAU tournament in Indianapolis, and next thing you know, [people were saying] ‘where did this kid come from?’ Jordan falls in that same category. He was relatively known by the lower level Division I schools. But after his success and exposure in these tournaments, what [colleges] realized was this kid wasn’t a one-game fluke. They saw a kid consistently scoring 18 points, [grabbing] 10 rebounds, and a very mature kid who runs the court extremely well. He isn’t your methodical big guy that lumbers up the court. He’s a 6-9, 245-pound player that can get out on the break and finish.”

Williams’ speed and athleticism in the open court, along with his ability to hit the 15-foot jumper, are just a couple of the characteristics that set him apart from other big guys, Turina said. Based on conversations with the Maryland coaching staff, Turina expects Williams to come in as a freshman and compete for time at the power forward and center positions.

“I think that they feel confident that if he comes in in shape, developed and ready to go, he’s going to see some solid minutes as a freshman,” Turina said. “That will be determined by how committed he is as well as the pieces they have coming together. A school like Maryland isn’t going to rely on a kid as a freshman to take them to a national championship. Gary Williams said point blank, ‘There are no guarantees. We expect you to come ready to play and become a better basketball player every day. If you’re committed to becoming a better player every day, we’ll assist you in becoming a better player.’

“I think that was a first-class comment coming from a Hall of Fame coach. I thought Maryland was tremendously honest and professional during the whole recruiting process. They laid it on the line on what he needed to be successful there. They didn’t talk down about any program; they just felt confident about the University of Maryland. I think Jordan came away really appreciative of that type of recruiting. I think that’s why he chose to go down there. He feels they will help him get to that next level. ... They’ve got a diamond in the rough that’s already a proven player.”

Turina has known Williams since he was a toddler. Leron Williams, Jordan’s father, and Murray Williams, his uncle, both starred for Torrington during their high school years. Leron has been an assistant to Turina for 10 years. So Turina speaks with confidence when he predicts that Williams, who picked Maryland over St. John’s, will impress Terps fans just as he has the Torrington faithful.

“When people come in, Jordan knows them personally and they know him,” Turina said. “He’s a tremendously nice kid; a gentleman. He’ll send out 50 or 60 cards to people in town [after the season], just thanking them for their support. He’s the type of guy that can go through a wall, but he’s the first kid that will help opposing players off the court. ... He goes to war many of the nights playing in our league. He’s going to experience that playing in the ACC, so he’s going to be ready for it. ... Maryland will find [out what type of player and person he is] very shortly.”