Grand Valley State has announced the addition of Kindred Williams to the Laker men's basketball program, as the 6'6" forward will transfer to GVSU from Saint Joseph's (Ind.) next season. With Saint Joseph's closing its doors at the end of this academic year, Williams will immediately be eligible to compete for the Lakers in the 2017-18 season. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
 
Williams started in 26 of the 29 games last season for the Pumas. In 29.1 minutes per game, he averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest, while shooting 52.7 percent from the field. Williams led the Great Lakes Valley Conference with 49 blocked shots, while adding 34 steals and handing out 46 assists.
 
He totaled five double-doubles on the year, including consecutive games of 16 points and 10 rebounds at Missouri-St. Louis, followed by a season-high 22 points and 10 boards against Drury. Williams scored in double-digits in 22 games, including 18 of his final 20 contests. Saint Joseph's finished the season with a 12-17 record and a 6-12 mark in GLVC play.
 
"We are very excited to add Kindred Williams to our team," said head coach Ric Wesley, entering his 14th season at the helm of the Laker program. "He is a veteran player who has proven himself at the Division II level. He is a very versatile player who can fit in with just about any combination we have on the floor and his athleticism allows him to guard both inside and outside players. Kindred is also an outstanding student and really fits the Grand Valley State culture."
 
One of 13 players named to the GLVC All-Defensive Team last season, he blocked three or more shots in a game 10 times, including seven rejections against McKendree. In conference play, Williams led the league with 37 blocked shots and his 7.9 rebounds per game in GLVC play were sixth-most of any player. Williams pulled down 2.6 offensive rebounds per game, which was tied for the fourth-most of any player in the conference.
 
Prior to his lone season at Saint Joseph's, Williams attended Metropolitan Community College Penn Valley, where he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game, helping the Scouts reach the NJCAA National Tournament in his final season. Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Williams received First Team All-Conference honors at MCC-Penn Valley and was the runner-up for the Player of the Year award in the league.


(Thanks to Tim McFarland CPPS for the photo.)