Transfer of Drexel Centre Amari Williams, Mark Pope’s first transfer addition, has formally committed to Kentucky
The first formal transfer commit to Kentucky during the Mark Pope era has been announced. Amari Williams, a big man from Drexel, has joined Kentucky, the school announced on Tuesday.
Williams made his commitment after spending the weekend in Lexington on business.
In the announcement, Pope remarked, “Amari Williams looks like a man among boys on the court at times.” It is quite difficult to win conference defensive player of the year three times, yet he has. He will be a strong presence on the court and a rebounder as well as rim protector. Amari is a talented defensive player who can play any position on the court, from one to five, which will give everyone else a sense of security.”
This season, Williams, a 230-pound centre who is six feet ten inches tall, averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He finished with eight double-doubles and ten games with ten or more rebounds.
Williams is most renowned for his shot blocking and defensive prowess. For the third consecutive year, he led the CAA in blocks last season. Over the previous three years, he has averaged 1.8 blocks per game. For his career, he had an 8.7 percent block rate, and in the previous season, it was 8.3 percent.
“He is a unique passer in college basketball and is dangerous at the rim offensively,” Pope continued. “Amari fits perfectly into what we want to do on either end of the court and can make all the reads, passes, and plays.”
Williams may now be useful as a recruiter off the court. And that might begin right away. Next weekend, Great Osobor, a former teammate of Williams’ in high school, is scheduled to visit the Wildcats.
Williams is still eligible for one more year.
