Final decision for Drexel's Amari Williams expected following Kentucky visit

Excitement is at an all-time high for Kentucky to land its first portal commitment under Mark Pope, loose targets transitioning into prime candidates to fill the roster going into 2024-25. The staff has reached out to dozens of transfer options looking to find the right fits, Drexel’s Amari Williams emerging as a clear favorite of the Wildcats.

The three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year has had an official visit scheduled for this weekend, previously announced on April 14. Then Pope visited with Williams in person on Thursday, followed by a list cut later in the evening.

The finalists? Kentucky, St. John’s and Mississippi State.

Entering the day Friday, the Wildcats garnered all of the buzz with speculation growing Pope had locked up Williams’ commitment during Thursday’s meeting. Rumblings of a public announcement ramped up around lunchtime, Big Blue Nation giddy for the imminent addition.

Not so fast, a source connected to Williams’ recruitment told KSR.

“Nothing is done and no decisions have been made,” they said, adding that his meeting with Kentucky on Thursday “went well” and “he’s looking forward to his visit.”

In short, don’t wait up Friday waiting to celebrate Pope’s first official addition. Williams will finalize announcement plans at the conclusion of his visit to Lexington this weekend.

That’s not to say the Wildcats shouldn’t be seen as a top contender, if not the heavy favorite. A separate source familiar with the situation told KSR it’s a head-to-head battle between Kentucky and St. John’s with Mississippi State falling behind as a distant third.

Connecting dots with the timeline of growing momentum following Thursday’s meeting and ahead of the weekend visit, and it’s impossible not to feel confident about Kentucky’s chances with arguably the best defensive big in the portal.

Just don’t expect anything official until Williams makes it to Lexington. Then it’ll be on Pope to close.