Twitter reacts to Amari Williams becoming Mark Pope’s first transfer commitment at UK

Posted by author April 21, 2024 Basketball

The Kentucky Wildcats are on the board within the transfer portal.

On Sunday, Kentucky landed a pledge from Drexel center Amari Williams, who became the first transfer pledge of the Mark Pope era, and boy, did Kentucky need it.

Williams is the kind of paint presence Kentucky was severely lacking this past season and would have been a tremendous addition even had John Calipari still been running things.

After all, you don’t win three Defensive Player of the Year awards in any conference without knowing how to make a major impact on that end. That’s what Williams did for the past three seasons while playing in the CAA.

While he may not light the world on fire offensively, Williams is exactly the kind of player Pope can start building his roster around. He joins Collin Chandler as players pledging to the Wildcats this week, and we should expect there to be plenty more in the coming weeks.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the big commitment for Kentucky!

Amari Williams — one of the top players in the transfer portal — is still exploring the NBA pre-draft process and has until May 29 to withdraw from the June draft. Williams is Mark Pope’s first recruit at Kentucky. https://t.co/pNvJHqs9MR

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 21, 2024

Just from this one possession, you can see the type of player Kentucky is getting in Amari Williams

✅perfect pick-and-roll positioning
✅challenges every shot
✅guards multiple positions
✅doesn’t fall for pump fake
✅erases anything around the rim pic.twitter.com/VTYZIKvugx

— WT – Adou Enthusiast (@WildcatsTongue) April 21, 2024

Coaching scout on Kentucky-bound big man Amari Williams:

Strengths: shot blocking, rim protector, good passer, and can run the floor.

Weakness: Finishing back to the basket. https://t.co/xgUv6f3ZWw

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 21, 2024

NOW…. Let the floodgates open!

Hoping some of these Kentucky basketball transfer portal targets are ready to follow Amari Williams lead#BBN

— BEEZY GARNER (@Burke_Franklin_) April 21, 2024

One of my favorite pickups of the portal so far.

Williams is elite defensively and should be a great ball transporter in Pope’s offense. https://t.co/A6loT7NhkS

— Trilly Donovan (@trillydonovan) April 21, 2024

Amari Williams, transfer from Drexel, joins the 2024-25 UKMBB roster. Getting a defensive powerhouse like Williams is a GREAT way to start the portal season for Pope. pic.twitter.com/lKiO2MKIq2

— WT – Adou Enthusiast (@WildcatsTongue) April 21, 2024

Amari Williams should be remembered as the first obvious contributor for next year, first immediate building block piece, who bought in with his last year of eligibility, knowing little about the rest of the team he will play with.

— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) April 21, 2024

Kentucky needs virtually everything, but Williams is a pretty strong fit in a Mark Pope system with his defense and passing chops. In the world of the “Hub” 5, someone with Williams’ skill set is really valuable with the way Pope’s teams play. https://t.co/XkKzypvVjQ

— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) April 21, 2024

Things I love about Amari Williams:

Will be 22 years old when he steps on campus / 23 for the NCAA Tournament

4 years of experience

Elite defender: great rim protector and athletic enough to guard multiple positions

Really good passer at the 5 and great in transition https://t.co/kND4R6Qrzm

— Matt Sak BBN (@MattSakR2NG) April 21, 2024

Underrated part of Amari Williams’ game is his vision when he has the ball on the low block. Hits cutters for easy buckets. Will turn it over some. Offense is a mixed bag but stout on other end and can run the floor.

— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) April 21, 2024

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