"He’ll open somebody’s eyes at Summer League": Kenrich Williams is going to Vegas with one goal in mind

There was not a lot to do on Friday nights in Hobbs, New Mexico. The nearest city with any decent nightlife, Lubbock, Texas, was a 90-minute drive — too far a trip up Route 62 for one night out on the town. That meant Kenrich Williams and his New Mexico Junior College teammates kept it low key most of the time.

“Population: not enough,” Williams said. “It’s small. You kind of grind it out for the whole year. You stay in the gym. There’s nothing else to do besides stay in the gym and chill with your teammates.”

The Waco, Texas, native ended up in the dusty desert town after not receiving a single Division I offer out of high school. Williams knew he was talented enough to play at college basketball’s highest level, but instead of sulking he helped the Thunderbirds to a 27-7 record while averaging 10.1 points and 6.9 rebounds during the 2013-14 season. TCU took notice, offered him a scholarship, and he accepted.

Five years later, Williams is once again traveling an arduous route to get where he wants to go.

The 6-foot-7 forward turned himself into one of the Big 12’s best players in four seasons at TCU. As a senior, he did a little bit of everything for a Horned Frogs team that made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years. Williams was named All-Big 12 Second Team.

Sports Illustrated ranked him as its 48th-best prospect heading into the NBA Draft, and most mocks projected him as an early to middle second-round pick. But concerns about his history of knee injuries and age caused him to go undrafted. Williams eventually agreed to play on the Nuggets’ Summer League team in the hopes of parlaying a strong performance into a spot on an NBA team somewhere.

“I’m used to being overlooked, being in the shadows, being underrated,” Williams said after practice Tuesday. “All I do is make the most out of it. I went to TCU and made the most out of it. I was an all-conference player. I went undrafted, but hopefully I can make my mark in the league somehow and have a long career.”

Not getting picked stung, but Williams was prepared for the possibility it might happen. He dealt with persistent pain in both knees at TCU. He missed the entire 2015-16 season after undergoing microfracture surgery. Williams understood his medical history and the fact that he was already 23 meant he could fall out of the draft entirely.

“At the end of the day, they’re investing money in you,” Williams said. “They want to be for sure that you’re going to be able to play when the time comes. I can see why a lot of teams passed on me, but it’s going to work out for me in the long run.”

There was not much more Williams could’ve done on the court last season to prove he could contribute at the next level. He ranked second in the Big 12 in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and sixth in assists (3.9 apg). He also shot 39.5 percent from three-point land on his way to averaging 13.2 points per game. He can contribute everywhere, which excites Nuggets Summer League coach Jordi Fernandez.

“I like his overall game,” Fernandez said. “Probably not a primary ball handler but a second-side pick-and-roll, drive-and-kick guy. He can make a shot, and he can guard. That’s what I really like. He’s going to help us compete with his energy and his personality. I think he’ll open somebody’s eyes at Summer League.”

Versatile wings are perhaps the most valuable commodity in today’s NBA. Williams can find a landing spot somewhere in the NBA with a strong performance in Las Vegas, whether that’s on a two-way contract or a guaranteed deal.

Williams isn’t afraid to have to prove himself again because he’s already done it. At 18 years old, he went to the desert town, put his head down and worked. Later this week, he’ll go to a more glitzy desert town and do the same with even bigger aspirations this time.

“The goal is to get a real contract,” Williams said. “That’s the main goal. But I’ll take anything after Summer League. We’re going to see what the options are. Anything can happen.”