NBA Comparison: Aron Baynes

Strengths: Williams is a sturdy and surprisingly mobile, agile and skilled 7-footer with excellent passing feel and court vision for a true center … At 262 pounds, he brings a physical interior presence but moves well for his size, showing the ability to defend in space and rotate effectively … He’s comfortable initiating offense from the top of the key or bringing the ball up the floor when given space — a rare trait for a player his size … Has developed into a high-level facilitator, thriving in dribble hand off actions and consistently hitting cutters with well-timed passes … Shows creativity with ball fakes and uses his eyes to shift defenders and open lanes … His improved ball-handling has allowed him to attack off the dribble more often, giving him another dimension as a short-roll playmaker … Plays to his strengths, stays within himself, and understands when to make the extra pass … On defense, he’s a dependable post anchor who uses verticality and positioning to contest shots without fouling … Solid rebounder who fights for position early and clears space with his frame … High basketball IQ and intangibles stand out in both his passing decisions and his ability to adapt to the flow of the game … Shows clear leadership qualities on the court, calling out assignments and maintaining strong communication … Rarely rattled by pressure and consistently makes sound team-first decisions in halfcourt sets …

Weaknesses: Still a very limited shooter — his form is clunky and lacks rhythm, making it unlikely he becomes a reliable perimeter threat without major rework … Doesn’t show natural touch from outside the paint and can struggle to finish in traffic when unable to rely on physicality … Needs to be more decisive and aggressive as a scorer near the rim — he sometimes avoids contact rather than seeking it … Tends to favor going over his right shoulder and finishing with his left, making his post game predictable in half-court matchups … Generally plays under the rim with the ball in his hands, which can limit his scoring options against longer defenders … Can sometimes predetermine passes and force the ball into traffic if the defense anticipates the action … Has a tendency to chase blocks out of position, which can compromise rebounding angles … May appear to coast through stretches of games and lose focus when not directly involved in the play … If a few calls go against him, he has shown a tendency to become visibly frustrated, which can impact his decision-making … Already 23 years old (born January 28, 2002), limiting the perceived upside compared to younger bigs in this class … Doesn’t possess elite vertical explosiveness and lacks second-jump quickness, which can limit his recovery ability and effectiveness against NBA-caliber athleticism …

Outlook: Williams is one of the more unique center prospects in this class — a physical, pass-first big who thrives as a high-post connector and low-post defender … While he may not fit the mold of a modern floor-spacing five, his vision, feel, and toughness give him a real path to NBA rotation minutes … He projects as a face-up center who can initiate offense in motion sets, anchor a second unit defensively, and add value with his basketball IQ and screening … A late bloomer who didn’t begin playing basketball seriously until sixth grade … If he lands in a scheme that leverages his strengths and hides his shooting limitations, he could stick as a dependable role-playing big … Some teams may peg him as a second-rounder, but his blend of passing, defense, and physicality could earn him sneaky late first-round consideration — especially for teams valuing interior toughness and halfcourt facilitation.

Notes: Three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year … Originally from Nottingham, England … Measured at 7’0”, 262 pounds … Played four seasons at Drexel, where he became one of the most productive and consistent two-way bigs in the mid-major ranks … Graduated with a degree in Business Administration …

Eric Yearian – 4/24/25