Former Kentucky Mr. Basketball Williams asks for release from NKU, intends to transfer

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

Carson Williams arrived at Northern Kentucky University as a highly touted basketball recruit and a bona fide hoops legend around Owen County.

But it appears that after just two years, Williams — Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 2016 — is leaving NKU for another school.

Multiple sources indicated earlier this week that Williams had asked for his release to transfer from NKU. Williams confirmed on Friday with a message to the Northern Kentucky Tribune that he did indeed receive his release and can transfer to another school.

Asked for further comment Friday, Williams replied that he didn’t “really have a lot to say at this time.”

When contacted by phone earlier in the week, an NKU spokesperson said he had not heard about a potential transfer by Williams nor a request for a release. According to one source, NKU agreed to grant Williams his release to transfer either late Thursday or Friday.

“Carson went to the compliance office and they told him he’d be released by the end of the day,” according to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “He’s given it a lot of thought and felt it was best for him to go to another program.”

Bryan McEldowney, NKU’s assistant athletic director for communications and media services, also confirmed Friday that Williams had been given his release.

A graduate of Owen County High School, Williams was named to the Horizon League’s All-Freshman Team during his first season with NKU and has helped the Norse win 46 games the past two years.

The 6-foot-6 sophomore averaged 12.0 points and shot 60.8 percent from the field this season as the Norse posted a 22-10 record. NKU won the Horizon League regular-season championship and later played Louisville in the NIT.

As a freshman at NKU, Williams started 34 of 35 games and helped the Norse win the Horizon League Tournament championship. NKU met Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and Williams scored 21 points in a 79-70 loss to the Wildcats. In that game, Williams shot 7-for-10 from the field and made all seven of his free throws.

During his career at Owen County, Williams scored 2,967 points and hauled in 1,671 rebounds. As a senior, he averaged 26.3 points and 10.7 rebounds while leading Owen County to a school-record 29 wins.

Williams was a standout in the classroom at Owen County, maintaining a 4.0 grade point average in high school. He was also named to the Horizon League’s five-member all-academic team last month, holding a 3.754 GPA as a criminal justice major.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport