Williams played basketball for University Prep Charter School for Young Men in Rochester, New York. As a junior, he averaged 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game and was named to the Class AA all-state fifth team.[1] For his senior season, Williams transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California, where he averaged 15.8 points per game.[2] He competed for the City Rocks on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit alongside Isaiah Stewart and Buddy Boeheim.[3] A four-star recruit, Williams committed to playing college basketball for Buffalo over offers from Syracuse, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Temple and St. Bonaventure.[4] He became the highest-rated recruit in program history per Rivals.com.[5]
College career
As a freshman at Buffalo, Williams averaged 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He played only 9.1 minutes per game on a team that finished 32–4 and was ranked all season. In his sophomore season, he moved into the starting lineup, and averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Following the season, he worked on his ballhandling and shooting with coaches in Florida and California.[5] On November 27, 2020, Williams posted a junior season-high 28 points and 12 rebounds in a 74–65 win against Towson.[6] As a junior, he averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, earning Second Team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) honors. Williams declared for the 2021 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning to Buffalo.[7][8] In his senior season debut on November 10, 2021, he scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds in an 88–76 loss to sixth-ranked Michigan.[9] Williams was named to the First Team All-MAC.[10]
On April 1, 2023, Williams signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.[14] He made his NBA debut the next day, scoring 7 points in a 107–105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He became the first Buffalo alumnus to play in the NBA since Sam Pellom forty years earlier.[15]
On July 28, 2023, Williams was waived by the Trail Blazers.[16]
Houston Rockets (2023–present)
On August 2, 2023, Williams signed with the Houston Rockets[17] and on October 23, his deal was converted into a two-way contract.[18] He appeared in the season opener on October 25, scoring four points in less than five minutes of play.[19] On July 3, 2024, he signed another two-way contract with the Rockets.[20]
On March 2, 2025, the Rockets signed Williams to a four-year, $8.2 million standard contract.[21]
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