The entire frontcourt is one of several places on the floor for Kentucky that will require a complete overhaul. The Wildcats will still require a backup center and many power forwards, even if Mark Pope obviously intends to have Malachi Moreno return once he tests the NBA waters and withdraws his name from the NBA Draft.
Donnie Freeman, who visited this week, is currently Kentucky’s top target at power forward. Freeman is a stud and would have a fantastic season down low for Pope’s Wildcats, but it sounds like this would come down to an SEC race.
Devin Williams, a transfer from FAU, is another player who the coaches has been in contact with and who might be used as Moreno’s backup. The 6’10, 205-pound forward shot 51% from the field and 30.6% from three last season while averaging 7.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game for the Owls.
Williams’ blocks per game is an excellent statistic. With 2.6 blocks per game, the 6’10” sophomore is tied for third place nationally. Next season, Williams—a freak athlete—will rank among the top rim protectors in the country. Williams would be a very good addition to the 2026–27 squad in terms of his defense down low.
Williams’ offense is the only thing that worries me about him. Despite averaging 7.5 points per game, he has a poor analytical offensive grade. Williams has a lot of offensive potential when you watch him play, but he still has a long way to go. The initial objective will be to see whether Pope can enhance the 6’10 forward’s attacking bag.
According to KSR, Williams and Kentucky are scheduled to meet via Zoom today. If all goes according to plan, Williams will be invited to visit the campus. Williams’ ability to defend and assist on the glass makes him a wise risk for this team to take in order to support Moreno. He would be useful for Kentucky if he could score six points per game.
Over the coming days, keep an eye on this name to see if Kentucky can bring Williams to campus for a visit. Pope still needs to add a lot of people through the transfer portal.
