Although Mark Pope has strengthened the team in many areas, Kentucky supporters are particularly pleased with the additions he has made to the frontcourt thus far.
Coach Pope has added Oklahoma State’s Brandon Garrison, Drexel’s Amari Williams, and Wake Forrest’s Andrew Carr.
Williams is such a great defender that he is one of my favorite pickups this offseason. He has repeatedly earned Drexel’s conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the SEC will soon adopt this winning mentality. With his enormous wing span of 6’10 265 inches, the big man will have no trouble swatting shots at his new school. Although Williams is a skilled defender, he can also make baskets and will improve as a scorer this season.
Carr, who averaged 13.5 points per game for the Demon Deacons the previous season, will be the top scorer for the Wildcats in the frontcourt. He is a devastating three-point shooter, averaging 37.1% in the ACC during the previous campaign. The 6’10 power forward has point guard-like hand-eye coordination when handling the basketball.
Being a McDonald’s All-American, Garrison is a player about whom Big Blue Nation doesn’t talk nearly enough. He recently completed his freshman year at Oklahoma State, where he averaged 22.6 minutes per game, 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for the Cowboys. As a freshman, Garrison blocked 1.5 shots per game, demonstrating his ability as a strong defender.
For Coach Pope, this frontcourt is developing into something very special this year.
