Kentucky didn't win, but Amari Williams proved he belongs with performance vs. Auburn

Amari Williams was never quite sure if he’d be able to play at the same level with Kentucky compared to his excellent four-year run at Drexel. He’s the only player in CAA history to win Defensive Player of the Year three consecutive seasons. But would that translate to a Blue Blood platform in the SEC where every single game is just as important as the last?

It wasn’t always pretty, but Williams eventually found his footing in what might just be the deepest conference in recent memory. Less than a full year removed from mid-major basketball, the seven-footer is now on pace to make an All-SEC Team.

“Something that I always questioned coming into this league was physically,” Williams admitted to reporters Monday. “I knew that at Drexel I wasn’t able to show it as much and it took me a while to adjust at this level. Ever since conference play has gone on, I’ve been managing that quite well. That’s something that’s caught me by surprise the most.”

The light bulb flickered on during the middle of Kentucky’s 106-100 win over Florida in Rupp Arena back on Jan. 4, the Wildcats’ first SEC game of the season. Williams says the second half of that Top 10 victory was the one where it all began to click. Considering the opponent, it was his best performance of the season to that point: 15 points (6-7 FG), eight rebounds, five assists, and just one turnover.

In 13 non-conference games to start the 2024-25 season, the native of England averaged 10.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 56.6 percent shooting. In 16 conference games, those numbers jumped to 11.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per outing on 61.1 percent shooting. Against Texas, he even hit his first three-pointer since Jan. 2023.

“I’ve never had a season where I just start off kinda struggling like I did here,” Williams said. “So sticking at it and not trying to shy back away from everything and keep my confidence. That’s something I’d say I learned a lot since I’ve been here.”

Williams is no longer a secret either. Opponents were giving him more airspace and plenty of room to operate from the top of the key early on in the season. But by the time scouting reports called for defenders to hug up on him and force him right at every opportunity, he had already adapted to the physicality.

It became a running gag to call Williams the tallest point guard in the history of college basketball, but it was a title he earned and deserved. With injuries decimatnig Kentucky’s roster, head coach Mark Pope gave Williams the freedom to dominate. Being asked to bring the ball up the floor shocked Williams, he said, but that trust he was shown by the staff only improved his confidence even more.

That’s part of why he came to Kentucky in the first place: to showcase there is far more to his game than just protecting the paint.

“I would say my offensive game has grown a lot. I didn’t think, coming into this conference, I was going to be able to do some of the things I did at Drexel. I’ve shown that otherwise,” Williams said. “Especially a lot of people didn’t think I was gonna be an offensive player coming into the season. I feel like that’s something I’ve kinda changed the narrative on.”

Williams has done just more than prove he can thrive on offense though. He proved he belongs at this high level of basketball. That was confirmed with his performance against Auburn’s Johni Broome, a top National Player of the Year candidate, over the weekend. Kentucky didn’t come out with the win, but Williams won the head-to-head battle. It was more reassurance that he’s suppose to be here.

“He’s a great player. I feel like he’s gonna win the Wooden Award,” Williams said of Broome. “But he’s a lefty just like me. So guarding someone with similar skillset, it was — I wouldn’t say easy, but I was able to read it better than a lot of the other post players.”

In the Wildcats’ 94-78 loss to Auburn in Rupp Arena, Williams finished with 13 points (3-5 FG; 7-13 FT), 14 rebounds, and seven assists. Meanwhile, Broome was limited to just nine points (3-9 FG; 3-7 FT), six rebounds, and one assist. In what was a massive opportunity for Williams to flex his talent on a national stage, he stepped up.

“There’s been a lot of games where post players probably got the better of me sometimes,” Williams added. “So for me to come into that game and just show I’m one of the best defensive players meant a lot.”

The season has gone quicker than expected for Williams, but he’s utilized every second. After being a relative unknown in the college basketball world this time last year, Williams is now among the nation’s best.

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