Drexel transfer Amari Williams commits to Kentucky

Amari Williams, YOU are a Kentucky Wildcat. The reigning three-time Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year will continue his college career in the Bluegrass State.

Joe Tipton reported Williams’ decision to commit to Kentucky on Sunday. After spending the weekend in Lexington with head coach Mark Pope for an official visit, the 6-foot-10 forward wasted no time announcing his next destination. Williams chose Kentucky over Mississippi State and will have one year of eligibility remaining.

As a senior in 2023-24, Williams averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 blocks in 22.9 minutes per game for Drexel while starting all 32 games he appeared in. Along with winning CAA DPOY for the third straight season, Williams was also tabbed to the All-CAA First Team.

Williams is a significant addition to Pope’s debut roster with Kentucky heading into the 2024-25 campaign. He’s considered the 18th-best overall player transfer portal, per On3, and will immediately project to fill one of the Wildcats’ starting frontcourt roles this coming season.

Originally from Nottingham, England, Williams played at Myerscough College before coming over to the United States and landing at Drexel. Of note, while at Myerscough College, he played alongside Utah State transfer forward Great Osobor, who is ranked No. 9 in the portal and is also heavily considering Kentucky. Williams and Osobor share the same agent.

Williams was an end-of-the-bench piece as a freshman in 2020-21 before quickly developing into an impactful defender as a sophomore in 2021-22. He won his first of three conference Defensive Player of the Year awards after averaging 9.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and two blocks in 20.6 minutes per contest. Williams would repeat as the winner as a junior in 2022-23 with per-game averages of 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.2 blocks in 27.4 minutes.

With Williams in the fold, Kentucky now has three pieces locked in for this coming season. The Drexel transfer joins former BYU signee Collin Chandler and Kentucky Mr. Basketball Travis Perry.