Probabilities for each Louisville basketball player’s return next season

Malik Williams

Big man – Senior

Probability of return: 60 percent

Everything inside of me says that rising senior big man Malik Williams is going to return in 2020-21, but given this year’s historically weak draft class, anything is possible.

Williams has improved consistently year-over-year, but he is currently stuck somewhere between an NBA stretch four and a true center. Williams is not as comfortable with his back to the basket as he is as a face-up big man in the post. He is solid from beyond the arc, but his slow release is certainly a deterrent for scouts.

Remember Montrezl Harell’s senior season when he was convinced that becoming a jump shooter was vital in order for him to succeed in the league? That’s how it feels with Williams, who has seen his opportunities as a spot-up shooter lessen over the last two years as Louisville’s need for a rebounding big in the low post has increased.

Harrell and Williams feel a world apart in regards to size, body composition, and skillset, but their stories could end up being quite similar.

Similarly to Harrell, Williams is a high energy guy who has a knack for grabbing rebounds and making timely hustle plays, and he is a “tweener” when projecting to the next level. Williams would be silly not to test things out on the next level, but it feels like the feedback at this point would be that he is simply not quite where he needs to be in any facet of the game.

Again, maybe Williams gets the feedback he needs and like VJ King or Jaylen Johnson in years prior, he decides its the best decision for him.