Amari Williams cracks Watch List for nation's best center

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Amari Williams - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

After making the leap from Drexel to Kentucky, Amari Williams is being recognized as one of the nation’s best centers going into the 2024-25 season.

On Friday, Williams was tabbed to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List, which consists of 20 of the most talented big men from all across the country. At Drexel, Williams became the first-ever Coastal Athletic Association player to win three Defensive Player of the Year awards after doing so in each of the previous three seasons. He also scored over 1,000 points during his four seasons with the Dragons. He’ll play a major role in Mark Pope‘s system this season as a playmaking 7-footer.

Williams is one of four SEC centers to make the Watch List, joining Alabama’s Clifford Omoruyi, Arkansas’ Jonas Aidoo, and Ole Miss’ Malik Dia. The list will be cut to 10 in February and then to five in March before a winner is announced during the Final Four in April. Oscar Tshiebwe (2022) is the only Kentucky player to win this award.

.@amxriwillixms has been named to the @Hoophall Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List.

📰🔗 – https://t.co/ZgvFg8n6yz pic.twitter.com/cgyGZFdsh2
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 1, 2024

Unfortunately, Williams is currently dealing with an injury. The native of England went down with what appeared to be a knee injury three minutes into Kentucky’s second and final exhibition earlier this week against Minnesota State. He was spotted riding the exercise bike in the second half but never returned to the floor.

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But on the bright side, Pope said on Thursday that imaging on Williams’ X-rays came back “really good, really positive” and that he’s listed as day-to-day ahead of the season-opener against Wright State on Monday at Rupp Arena. Williams posted 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, and one block in 20 minutes of action during the Wildcats’ first preseason win against Kentucky Wesleyan last week.

Williams sure looked the part of a Top 20 center in the country during his showing against Kentucky Wesleyan. If he can keep that once he returns from injury, it only boosts the Wildcats’ ceiling.