by Jeff Goodman

According to sources close to the situation, Andre Dawkins, one of the nation's top 2009 recruits, is expected to be cleared by the NCAA and enroll this season — one year earlier than planned.

This is a huge boost for a team that recently learned that Williams, who started at guard down the stretch last season, was transferring to Memphis to be close to his mother, who has cancer.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Dawkins is considered one of the elite shooting guards in the Class of 2009 as a big-time long range shooter who also possesses impressive athleticism.

Dawkins, who is Scout.com's No. 3 shooting guard in the country and is ranked No. 22 overall, will likely see extensive playing time this season for the Blue Devils, who are thin in the backcourt with just two players under 6-foot-7 in Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith.

Dawkins averaged 22 points per game this past season at Atlantic Shores Christian in Virginia. He spent his freshman season at Deep Creak High (Va.) before repeating his freshman season at Atlantic Shores, where he, according to one source, has a 3.2 GPA.