Toledo basketball's Wilson arrived early, eager to one-up competition

Jun. 21—Tod Kowalczyk's connection with Dwyane Wade piqued Elijah Wilson's interest in the University of Toledo.

The Rockets' style of play created more intrigue.

The team's culture sealed the deal.

"Whenever there's something I don't know about, I tend to do a lot of research," said Wilson, a member of the 2021 recruiting class. "The first thing I actually realized was Coach K helped Dwyane Wade get to the NBA. Following up with his career, I saw that when he came to Toledo, he turned the program around and made them a winning program. He's a winning coach.

"During recruiting, a lot of coaches call and aren't genuine. Talking to Toledo, I felt like it was a family, a brotherhood. Even after they offered me, they still called me almost every day. It felt like it could be a home away from home."

Wilson, a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., couldn't find Toledo on a map before they contacted him. And Toledo didn't know who the 6-foot-5 guard was until October of 2020, one month before he signed with the Rockets sight unseen.

UT assistant coach Jeff Massey stumbled upon Wilson through a connection with his AAU coach. Massey and Kowalczyk liked what they saw, and a strong recommendation from Georgia Tech assistant Julian Swartz kicked Toledo's pursuit into high gear.

"[Wilson] possesses an elite skill level, can really shoot the ball, and I think he can come in and compete right away," Kowalczyk said.

While Toledo's focus intensified on Wilson, he spent his days watching game after game of UT game tapes. The Rockets' offense, heavy on ball movement, 3-point shooting, and high-percentage shots near the basket, appealed to Wilson, who built strong relationships with Kowalczyk and Massey.

As a senior at Mountain View High School, Wilson averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, and six assists per game before matriculating to Carolina Basketball Academy, which is managed by a professional staff with national and international experience. There, he averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

With offers from Mississippi State, Towson, and Toledo, Wilson chose what he viewed as the best fit. There was also a desire to branch out and to see a different part of the country. Wilson considers himself a naturally curious person and wanted to see the Midwest.

He got a headstart on his adventure, enrolling at Toledo in May, well before any of his future class of 2021 teammates.

Wilson's rationale was that he'll be competing with multiple players at his position, so he wanted to get started early to perhaps gain an advantage.

"What a mature statement. And what he wants to do is compete," Kowalczyk said. "He wants to guard Ryan Rollins and he wants to guard Spencer Littleson. He wants to be challenged and get better. That's a great sign."

Littleson, who will pursue professional opportunities in Europe, is still at Toledo working out. During a recent summer workout, Wilson was one of the most active participants at both ends of the court, a scrimmage that included Littleson, Rollins, Setric Millner, Jr., JT Shumate, RayJ Dennis, and EJ Farmer.

In his first month on campus, Wilson has grown fond of Toledo and become a gym rat. Already, he's upped his weight from 178 to 181, with hopes of being in the 185-190 range for the season. Improving his shooting, especially as he tires, and figuring out the pace of college basketball are on Wilson's summer to-do list.

"I want to get better every day. If I'm not getting better, I'm frustrated," he said. "I'm not going to be stronger than everyone I play against. But one thing I can have is, I can think the game through. If I can have that, it beats strength. If I can out-think you, I can out-play you. I want to be able to think the game through at a quick pace and a high level."

A Toledo basketball staple is offense, and the Rockets will have plenty of scorers in 2021-22. If Wilson adds to the offensive output, UT will consider it a bonus. Defense is where Wilson can make an immediate, consequential difference.

After the High School Jamboree last summer, Phenom Hoops wrote, "What I love most about his game is the pride he takes defensively. He takes pride in hounding ball handlers and really looks to cause a lot of turnovers. He controls the pace of the game and plays to his strengths, never tries to get outside of himself."

Those qualities have not gone unnoticed by Kowalczyk.

"For any true freshman, if they really, truly want to get on the floor and play meaningful minutes, they have to prove they can defend at this level," he said. "If you can do that, it forces us coaches to find minutes for you."

Punching the time clock, displaying his blue-collar ethos, and outworking the competition is a challenge Wilson readily accepts.

"It's just the competitive nature in me," he said. "I always want to be ahead of my competitors. I feel like I need to be ready. I knew college would be a transition. If I could get my struggles out of the way quicker, I could get better faster and be ahead of my competition."