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Western Kentucky Basketball: Late pickup of Keith Williams could win them CUSA

By Tristan Freeman

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 08: Keith Williams #2 of the Cincinnati Bearcats on the court in the game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Fifth Third Arena on January 08, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 08: Keith Williams #2 of the Cincinnati Bearcats on the court in the game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Fifth Third Arena on January 08, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Western Kentucky Basketball lost a lot of talent this offseason, including star big man and Conference USA Player of the Year Charles Bassey, as well as guard Taveion Hollingsworth. But credit to head coach Rick Stansbury, they were able to land a few good transfers that should keep them in contention for next season, including most recent pickup Keith Williams.

The 6’5 guard spent four seasons with the Cincinnati Bearcats, starting a total of 83 games, and as an upperclassman, was a leading contributor for the team on offense. Williams led the Bearcats this past year with 14.3 ppg on 40% shooting from the field, including a career-high 27 points against Furman.

What Williams lacks in terms of efficiency and a career 29% three-point shooting percentage, he makes up for in being a capable scorer who can create his own offense, while also being a good defender overall. After entering the portal right at the deadline, Williams became one of the few legit impact transfers late in the offseason.

He could’ve stayed at the power conference level but instead, joins the Hilltoppers for this upcoming season and could’ve singlehandedly altered the preseason rankings for Conference USA. Throughout the offseason, there has been a consensus viewpoint that Louisiana Tech, led by big man Kenneth Lofton, and UAB, led by a bunch of talented incoming transfers, were going to be the teams to beat, with Western Kentucky in the mix.

But now, the Hilltoppers will be running a rotation that includes Williams, 5th-year senior and returning double-digit scorer Josh Anderson, sophomore Dayvion McKnight, and four-star freshman guard Zion Harmon in the backcourt. And while the team doesn’t have an individual as good as Bassey in the frontcourt, they do have plenty of good depth, led by DePaul transfer forward Jaylen Butz, Mayland combo forward transfer Jairus Hamilton, and 7’2 big man Jamarion Sharp, considered to be one of the best incoming Junior College transfers in this year’s class.

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While last year’s WKU roster may have featured better talent at the top, this group, in my opinion, has more overall depth. Williams gives them a proven double-digit and two-way contributor and if things go right, could be a contender for Conference Player of the Year. It may have been late, but the Hilltoppers strike gold again when it comes to getting power conference-level talent.