Amari Williams

Amari Williams
No. 22 – Kentucky Wildcats
PositionCenter
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (2002-01-28) January 28, 2002 (age 22)
NationalityBritish
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight262 lb (119 kg)
Career information
High schoolMyerscough College
(Preston, Lancashire)
College
Career highlights and awards
  • 3× CAA Defensive Player of the Year (2022–2024)
  • 2× First-team All-CAA (2023, 2024)
  • Third-team All-CAA (2022)
  • 3× CAA All-Defensive Team (2022–2024)

Amari Williams (born January 28, 2002) is a British college basketball player who plays for the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference. He previously played for the Drexel Dragons.

Early life

Williams grew up in Nottingham, England and initially attended Trinity School, Nottingham.[1] He transferred to Myerscough College when he was 16 years old.[2] Williams primarily played football when growing up.[3]

College career

Williams began his college career with the Drexel Dragons. He was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Year and third-team all-conference as a sophomore. Williams repeated as CAA Defensive Player of the Year and was named first-team all-conference while averaging 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.[4] As a senior, Williams averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game and was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year for a third straight season.[5] After the end of the season, Williams decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020–2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and entered the NCAA transfer portal.[6]

Williams transferred to Kentucky.[7]

National team career

Williams has represented Great Britain in international competitions at the under-16, under-18, and under-20 levels.[8]

References

  1. ^ Malcolm, Rod (August 7, 2018). "Meet the six foot eight 16-year-old who's a rising star in the basketball world". Nottingham Post. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Simpson, Ariel (January 14, 2022). "Drexel basketball duo's bond stretches from across the pond". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Story, Mark (October 17, 2024). "Why a 7-foot Englishman could be the key to Mark Pope's first Kentucky men's basketball season". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Leuzzi, John (April 21, 2024). "Who is Amari Williams? Mark Pope, Kentucky basketball land Drexel star F, per reports". Courier Journal. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "Drexel's Amari Williams earns third CAA Defensive Player Award". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 7, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Gabriel, Kerith (March 12, 2024). "Drexel star forward Amari Williams to see what the NBA draft and NCAA transfer portal might offer". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Borzello, Jeff (April 21, 2024). "Agent: Drexel transfer Amari Williams commits to Kentucky". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "Williams Selected to Represent Great Britain in World Cup Qualifiers". DrexelDragons.com. June 23, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.