Kentucky coach Mark Pope likes that centers Amari Williams and Brandon Garrison both want to play 40 minutes but also both understand they have roles that will not let that happen.
“They are both starving to play and they both cheer for each other. It’s really a beautiful thing. Amari has been such an incredible big brother to BG,” Pope said.
Williams, a Drexel transfer, came to Kentucky known for his defensive prowess and passing. He believed Pope and his staff could help develop him into a better all-around player and give him a chance to show that against elite competition.
“Amari Williams is a play starter even at his size. He has a handle, he can drive it, he can pass it,” ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes said. “He was a three-time defensive player of the year in his conference but he can be an offensive program. He is a legit 7-footer who can create his own one-on-one action. A 7-footer who can handle the ball on the perimeter and open that inside game up is perfect for what Pope needs in his offense.”
If Williams has one problem other than sometimes maybe dribbling too much, it might be that he cares too much. He can get frustrated at himself and it often shows.
“He might care about this more than anybody that I know. Like, he cares so much and he wants to perform well so badly, and he brings so much out of the games. One of the things that he’s working on is moving on to the next play with a whole heart and that’s a challenge when you care as much as he does and our guys do,” Pope said.
Pope has assistant coach Alvin Brooks do a video edit of each player’s body language after each game.
“We actually show our guys following the game when we do our autopsy, one of the edits will show our guys — there’s only body language, it’s only winning body language. Body language where it’s like, ‘Oh we can be better.’ And so that’s something we pay a lot of attention to and our guys are really working on,” Pope said. “Amari is gonna continue to be great at it.”
Former UK All-American Kenny Walker knew Williams was supposed to be a great shot blocker and rebounder. Williams leads the team in blocked shots (18) and rebounding (9.1 per game) along with scoring 10.2 points per game. He’s also shot almost 57 percent from the field.
“He has done some things really well and the things that worry me offensively with him can be corrected,” Walker said. “For a big guy, he dribbles the ball a little too much. He is good at initiating the offense and gets assists but he also leads theta in turnovers. He has to be better at that.
“He has also had trouble finishing around the rim when they throw it inside to him. Sometimes he dribbles three or four times before getting a shot off. When they throw it inside to him, he has to shoot or take one or maybe two dribbles at most.”
Walker was an explosive jumper. Williams is not and Walker understands he uses his dribble to establish a rhythm but he has to be quicker.
“He is thinking too much. He just has to be decisive and quick whether he’s going to shoot or pass. But those are things he can do and there’s no doubt in SEC play against all these physical teams that he is going to be a very, very important player for this team.”
