K-State signs Kenny Williams

MANHATTAN, Kan. Kansas State men’s basketball coach Jim Wooldridge announced the signing of junior college forward Kenny Williams (St. Petersburg [Fla.] College/Miami, Fla.) to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. He is the first player to ink with the Wildcats for the 2006-07 season.

“We are excited about the addition of Kenny to our program,” said Wooldridge. “He is a big physical presence in the paint that can score and rebound. He will be a excellent fit with the players we already have in the program with his ability to run the floor and finish around the rim.”

A 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward from Miami, Fla., Williams is entering his second season as a starter for St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Fla. He was named first team All-Suncoast Conference and to the freshman all-conference squad after leading the Titans to the Suncoast Conference Championship in 2004-05.

Williams averaged a team-leading 16.4 points as a freshman on 53.8 percent shooting (203-of-377) with 6.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 assists in 28.7 minutes per game. A starter in 29 of 30 contests, he ranked second on the team in rebounding, block, steals and field goal percentage. This year, Williams is averaging a team-best 21.8 points for the 5-1 Titans on 59.7 percent shooting (46-of-77) with 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 34.0 minutes per game. He paces the team in rebounds, blocks, shooting percentage and minutes. Williams has scored 20 or more points in four of five games, including a season-best 31 against Central Florida Community College.

Williams chose Kansas State after receiving interest from a number of schools, including Florida State, Purdue, USC, St. John’s and UNLV.

“He is a 6-foot-8, 240-pound post,” said St. Petersburg head coach Earnest Crumbley. “He was a tight end in high school and moves around well. He is very physical. If he were two inches taller, he’d be Ben Wallace. I think he is that good. Kansas State has added a really good player.”

A first team All-Dade County tight end, Williams signed with Auburn out of American Senior High School in Miami, Fla., as part of the 2003 recruiting class to play for the Tigers on the gridiron. He chose Auburn over offers from Missouri, Rutgers, Central Florida and interest from Florida State.

Kansas State University Athletics

Related Videos