Keith Williams (basketball, born 1998)

Keith Williams Jr. (born July 25, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Nasty Nati of The Basketball Tournament (TBT). He played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Keith Williams
No. 2 – Nasty Nati
PositionShooting guard
LeagueTBT
Personal information
Born (1998-07-25) July 25, 1998
Brooklyn, New York
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolBishop Loughlin Memorial
(Brooklyn, New York)
CollegeCincinnati (2017–2021)
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022Otago Nuggets
2023Raptors 905
2023–presentNasty Nati
Career highlights and awards

High school career

Williams played basketball for Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, New York. As a junior, he averaged 15 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.[1] In his senior season, Williams averaged 24.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, earning All-New York City Player of the Year and Catholic High School Athletic Association Class AA Most Valuable Player honors.[2] He competed for New Heights on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit alongside Moses Brown and Isaiah Washington.[3] He committed to playing college basketball for Cincinnati over offers from Dayton and Oklahoma State.[4]

College career

Williams came off the bench during his freshman season at Cincinnati, and averaged 3.1 points per game.[5] In his sophomore season, he became a regular starter, averaging 9.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.[6] On March 3, 2020, Williams posted a career-high 30 points and four steals in a 79–67 win against South Florida.[7] As a junior, he averaged 12.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Williams declared for the 2020 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning to college. For his senior season, he assumed a leading role with the departure of Jarron Cumberland.[8] On December 9, 2020, he scored a season-high 27 points in a 78–73 win over Furman.[9] As a senior, Williams averaged 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and was named to the Second Team All-American Athletic Conference. Williams finished his Bearcat career with 1,156 points, good for 35th all–time in program history as of 2020.

He declared for the 2021 NBA draft but decided to withdraw and enter the transfer portal.[10] Williams transferred to Western Kentucky for his fifth season of eligibility, granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12] However, he was ruled out for the season on January 18, 2022, before playing a game, as his appeal for immediate eligibility was denied by the NCAA.[13]

Professional career

On April 20, 2022, Williams signed with the Otago Nuggets for the 2022 New Zealand NBL season.[14] He helped the Nuggets win the championship with an 81–73 win over the Auckland Tuatara in the grand final.[15] He earned grand final MVP honors after scoring 34 points.[16]

Raptors 905 (2023–present)

On February 18, 2023, Williams was acquired by the Raptors 905.[17]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Cincinnati 3309.9.385.148.5311.2.4.5.23.1
2018–19 Cincinnati 353225.8.451.276.7073.21.11.1.99.9
2019–20 Cincinnati 302928.8.435.342.7924.61.61.2.912.6
2020–21 Cincinnati 232227.3.398.313.6534.12.51.2.714.3
Career 1218322.5.424.294.6973.21.31.0.79.6

References
  1. Furman, Andy (March 19, 2021). "For Keith Williams the next chapter starts now". Brooklyn Eagle. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  2. Williams, Justin (November 23, 2018). "Keith Williams is developing into a key piece of Bearcats' ongoing puzzle". The Athletic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  3. Berg, Justin (January 31, 2019). "Keith Williams Is On A Mission". 247Sports. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  4. Zagoria, Adam (October 5, 2016). "Keith Williams to Cincinnati". Zagsblog. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  5. Williams, Justin (March 4, 2021). "Remember Keith Williams for his Cincinnati basketball climb, bizarre final season". The Athletic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  6. "Hilltoppers add Cincinnati transfer Keith Williams". WNKY. August 25, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  7. Williams, Justin (March 4, 2020). "Five takeaways from UC's big win: Keith stars, Dou shines and Tre's PoY chances". The Athletic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  8. Williams, Justin (August 2, 2020). "Keith Williams is back. How can he take UC, and his own game, to the next level?". The Athletic. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  9. "Williams scores 27 to lead Cincinnati over Furman 78-73". ESPN. Associated Press. December 9, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  10. Goldsmith, Charlie (June 29, 2021). "Former Cincinnati Bearcats guard Keith Williams enters the transfer portal". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  11. MacDonald, Jared (August 25, 2021). "Tops add Cincinnati transfer Keith Williams". The Daily News. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  12. Furman, Andy (September 10, 2021). "Scholastic Roundup: Keith Williams has a new home". Brooklyn Eagle. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  13. Carey, Patrick (January 18, 2022). "Keith Williams and Zion Harmon ruled out for remainder of the season for WKU". WKNY. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  14. Cheshire, Jeff (April 20, 2022). "Nuggets announce signing". odt.co.nz. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  15. Cheshire, Jeff (15 August 2022). "Defence to the fore as Nuggets hit their straps at precisely the right time". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  16. Cheshire, Jeff (15 August 2022). "Williams caps first pro season with MVP performance". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  17. "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
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