Kentucky locks up Drexel transfer Amari Williams after late-night meeting

By ADAM ZAGORIA

Kentucky coach Mark Pope had a late-night meeting with Drexel transfer Amari Williams to lock him up for the 2024-25 season, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Source: Following a late-night meeting with head coach Mark Pope, Amari Williams will remain committed to playing for Kentucky next season. pic.twitter.com/tJFKNv8pOr

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 2, 2024

The 6-foot-10 native of England had already signed with Kentucky after committing last month, but the Wildcats also added Wake Forest transfer forward Andrew Carr and Oklahoma State transfer center Brandon Garrison.

As a senior, Williams averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 blocks per game in 22.9 minutes of action. Williams started all 32 games for Drexel en route to earning his third straight defensive player of the year honor and an All-Coastal Athletic Association First Team nod. Williams will have one season of eligibility remaining.

“At times, Amari Williams looks like a man among boys on the court,” Pope said when he signed. “He is a three-time conference defensive player of the year, which is incredibly hard to do. He is bringing a big presence to the game and is going to serve as a rim-protector and rebounder. Amari is a gifted defensive player who can switch onto any position, one through five, which will add security to how everybody else feels on the court.

“Offensively, he is dangerous at the rim and he’s one of the special passers in college basketball. Amari can make all of the reads, all of the passes, all of the plays and he fits into exactly what we want to do on either end of the court.”

Meantime, Pope and his staff are reportedly visiting the family of BYU transfer guard Jaxson Robinson, who averaged 14.2 point last season. The Wildcats on Wednesday added West Virginia transfer guard Kerr Kriisa and Dayton transfer guard Koby Brea after previously adding Oklahoma transfer guard Otega Oweh and San Diego State transfer guard Lamont Butler.

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