ATHENS, Ohio – It’s going to be quite a globetrotting summer for Ohio freshman Leon Williams. The Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and 2005 MAC Tournament MVP has been chosen to join an elite all-star team assembled by the National Invitation Tournament and slated to compete against professional and junior national teams in England and Ireland during June and July.

The 6-8, 245-pound product of Baltimore averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game for the Bobcats during the regular season. During the conference tournament, he hiked that a notch to 17 points and 11 rebounds to earn recognition from coaches and NIT site officials and a place on the all-star roster. Williams will join such standouts as Steve Novak from Marquette, Kevin Bookout of Oklahoma and Donnie McGrath of Providence College.

“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the top college players in the country,” said Williams. “This will be my first time overseas playing against great competition and I’m excited about the whole thing and can’t wait to get over there.”

The NIT All-Stars have been touring since 1980 and are coached by veteran ABA and Italian League All-Star George Bucci. For more than three decades, the NIT All-Stars have been assembling top collegiate talent representing the tournament organization, their schools and their country and Williams joins a long list of talented student-athletes who have taken advantage of the opportunity.

“This is great for him and our program,” observed Ohio head coach Tim O’Shea. “This can only help Leon’s development because it’s hard for big men to find other big men to play against during the summer and this will take care of that challenge and then some.”

O’Shea was also referring to the Bobcats’ own international tour scheduled to carry them to Holland and Belgium during the month of August.

Williams reports to camp at Manhattan College on June 18 and, following four days of preparation, departs for London where the NIT All-Stars will face four professional teams from the British leagues. Tentatively scheduled are at least two more games in Ireland against junior national teams before the All-Stars return home the first week of July.

And what souvenirs does Williams plan to bring home?

“I’ll be working on my face-up game and looking forward to competing against other big men to improve and get better at everything,” promised Williams. “You can always get better in all parts of your game.”