Williams was a virtual unknown coming into the season. As a lightly recruited freshman entering Texas A&M’s somewhat-deprived rotation, he wasn’t expected to make much of a splash this season. That narrative has changed pretty quickly.
Although he’s still raw in a number of areas, Williams’ defensive potential and gradually-improving offensive arsenal have locked him into the lottery conversation. He’s only in the 6-9 to 6-10 range in terms of height, but plays much bigger than that with a 7-4 wingspan and gifted athleticism. He’s college basketball’s most prolific rim protector this season, and figures to translate that to the next level as one of the draft’s better defensive stalwarts.
His length and mobility allows him to contest shots in a variety of different areas. I have yet to watch a Texas A&M game in which Williams didn’t get his hand on a 3-point attempt. Being able to stretch out to the perimeter, while still making smart rotations and solid instinctual plays on the interior is an impressive defensive asset in today’s league.
The ground he covers to switch off of Adebayo and block this 3-pointer is downright impressive.
Even with today’s focus shifting towards perimeter shooting on the offensive end, having somebody who can protect the rim is an absolute must. Somebody who can force the offense away from the basket and make them game plan around his presence is a rarity — and Williams boasts that kind of upside.
Previous Ranking: 16
Offensively, Williams is a mixed bag — but one with some real upside. He hasn’t polished off his interior game yet, but shows some nice touch around the low block nonetheless. He has also proven effective with his mid-range, jumper hitting on 41.3 percent of jump shots inside the arc. His form is a bit long and drawn out, but he gets the separation needed to make it work.
He hasn’t gotten much in the way of 3-point shots to fall (outside of one versus Kentucky), but his range is gradually increasing — and that’s a huge development nowadays.