Amari Williams continues to put up remarkable numbers, achieving statistical milestones that haven’t been seen in decades. The Kentucky Wildcats’ seven-foot center has been on an incredible run, consistently delivering performances that etch his name into the record books.
Earlier in the week against Vanderbilt, Williams was nearly flawless, scoring 17 points while going 6-for-6 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. This feat made him only the third player in Kentucky history to achieve such efficiency. Not long before that, he recorded just the fourth triple-double in the program’s history.
Even though Kentucky fell 96-83 to No. 4 Alabama on Saturday, Williams still managed to put up a performance that was both rare and exceptional. The Drexel transfer recorded 17 points (5-of-9 shooting, 7-of-10 from the line), 11 rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block in just 27 minutes. This marked his ninth double-double of the season and his seventh in SEC play.
What makes this outing even more impressive is its historical significance. According to Kentucky Athletics, Williams is the first seven-footer in SEC history since the 1996-97 season to record such a stat line against a Top 25 opponent. The last non-SEC player to accomplish this was Akolda Manyang, who played under Mark Pope at Utah Valley and posted similar numbers against Duke in 2017. Within Kentucky’s program, no one has put up a 17/11/6 performance since Jack “Goose” Givens did it in January 1977.
Williams’ dominance doesn’t stop there. His six assists against Alabama pushed his season total to 81, setting a new Kentucky record for assists by a seven-footer. The previous record of 66 was held by Sam Bowie during the 1983-84 season. Additionally, Williams has now scored at least 17 points in three consecutive games for the first time in his collegiate career, which spans 132 games.
Despite Kentucky’s loss, Williams’ stellar play continues to make headlines. His ability to impact the game on multiple levels—scoring, rebounding, and playmaking—proves he is performing at an elite, All-SEC level. If he keeps up this pace, he will go down as one of the most unique and versatile big men in Kentucky basketball history.
