A local high school basketball player is choosing to stay local as he joins a community college team that plays just 45 miles from his high school. Parsons High School's Dariq “The Freak” Williams, who made the announcement via his Twitter, will be joining the Neosho County Panthers. His Head Coach Anthony Houk says he told him to not let too many people influence his decision.

Houk says the competition level at these local junior colleges does a great job of getting players ready for the next level and letting them adjust to being in college.

Williams joins Vikings teammates Pierce Thomas and Zeke Lyons who have announced they will be playing basketball at the junior college level. Thomas will join Coffeyville Community College and Lyons joins Kansas City Kansas Community College.