A year ago, high school junior Duane Wilson Jr. thought it was different that the Marquette coaching staff spoke to him about everything but basketball during his recruitment.

Welcome to Buzz Williams’ world.

The Whitefish Bay (Wis.) Dominican High School point guard announced his commitment to the Golden Eagles last week, giving Marquette its second recruit for the 2013 class.

Marquette was the first school to offer Wilson a scholarship and stayed in close contact with the then-sophomore. Williams and associate head coach Tony Benford often took the short, 15-minute ride to Dominican to watch Wilson at open gyms, practices and games. That commitment spoke volumes to Wilson and his family when he decided on Marquette last week.

“Even if we weren’t playing a good team, or it wasn’t a big game, (Benford) would show up,” Wilson said. “He was really good to me and my family.”

Wilson was invited to a handful of practices and games and said Marquette’s passion for basketball attracted him. The Golden Eagles’ style of play was also a fit Wilson said he wanted to play in.

“He just loves his guards, and all three of his guards can bring the ball up,” Wilson said. “They’re combo guards.”

During the recruiting process, Benford sent Wilson a highlight reel of NBA stars Derrick Rose and Kyrie Irving. Wilson said he watches the tape twice a week. He studies the players’ moves and then works on them in the gym. He said he models his game toward Chris Paul and many have likened him to Jrue Holiday.

“Duane (Wilson) kind of brings the whole package together as far as being able to score in transition, score in the half court, get to the basket and defend,” said Dominican coach Paul Wollersheim.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Knights, who went 27-1 and won the Division IV state championship two weeks ago. Wilson shot 52 percent from the field, 43 percent from beyond the arc and 82 percent from the free throw line for the season.

His 84 steals are also the single season record at Dominican, something he prides himself in every time he steps on the court, regardless of opponent.

“I need to put everything together,” Wilson said. “I’ve been working on every part of my game.”

Wilson is also a first cousin of current Marquette forward Jamil Wilson. Duane said the two text back and forth and speak to each other at least once a week.

“He’s always telling me to hit the books and stay out of trouble,” Duane said. “He told me Buzz (Williams) makes you work hard and that his players get after it.”

Wilson said his mother, Lashonda Lever, was interested in what Marquette offered off the court.

“Mom was focused on the academics,” Lever said at her son’s announcement. “That was the biggest thing.”

Wilson got to see that hard work up close when he took an unofficial visit in February. He met with Ernest Eugene and Todd Smith and was able to see the players in study hall on an off-day. He also got a look at each player’s weekly schedule.

“I got to see their weekly schedules and how Buzz knows when they all have class and where they are at all times,” Wilson said. “He’s more than a coach. He treats you like one of his sons.”

Wilson will attempt to fill Junior Cadougan’s shoes when he arrives on campus next year and said he was impressed by what the fellow point guard had to say about his experience in Milwaukee.

“Cadougan talked to me a lot and just told me how he was graduating next year and how he became a man at Marquette,” Wilson said.

Wilson made his decision on that unofficial visit, but waited until Dominican’s season was over to announce it to the public.