Amari Williams was surprisingly left off the All-SEC postseason awards, an oversight that doesn’t sit right considering his impact at Kentucky. Across 18 conference games, Williams averaged 11.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and nearly a block per game while shooting 59% from the field. Despite his strong numbers and game-changing presence, the SEC coaches opted for mostly guards and scoring wings, with only four players over 6’7″ making the list.
Williams, a seven-footer who transferred from Drexel, quickly became a crucial part of Mark Pope’s offense. His breakout moments included a triple-double against Ole Miss and multiple dominant performances in key matchups. He outplayed Florida’s Alex Condon, Auburn’s Johni Broome, and South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles in head-to-head battles, yet they received All-SEC honors while he was overlooked.
Statistically, Williams stood out in the SEC, leading in total rebounds and ranking in the top 10 in assists—an impressive feat for a center. His player rating was also higher than several players who made the cut. While Kentucky finished sixth in the SEC standings, other mid-tier teams had multiple honorees, suggesting the snub may have been due to the league’s preference for certain schools.
While Williams wasn’t necessarily a candidate for All-Defense or Newcomer of the Year, his all-around contributions warranted a spot on one of the three All-SEC teams. Now, he’ll have a chance to prove the doubters wrong as Kentucky enters the SEC Tournament in Nashville.
