Role for Williams set to expand

Kam Williams played just 24 seconds last weekend in his Albany Patroons debut. He had to make that brief appearance just to be eligible for The Basketball League playoffs that begin in June.

Expect him to play a more significant role beginning with Saturday’s game at 7 p.m. against the Tri State Admirals in Washington Avenue Armory.

Williams, a 6-foot-2 guard who scored more than 1,000 points at Ohio State from 2014 to 2018, signed with the divisionleading Patroons (14-2) last week after playing in Denmark.

“I told the players after the first practice, I didn’t come here to step on anybody’s toes or reinvent the wheel,” Williams said Friday. “I just wanted to come here, stay in shape, keep improving on the defensive end for my next situation, whatever that may be. Just stay in shape and stay sharp.”

TBL rules require a player to appear in at least eight regular-season games to be eligible for the postseason.

Albany had just eight regular-season games remaining heading into last Saturday’s game at Syracuse.

Though coach Will Brown didn’t really want to play Williams because he had just arrived a day earlier and didn’t know the offense, he threw him in for the final 24 seconds of the 100-92 win over the Stallions so Williams could remain playoffeligible. Brown said his assistants, led by Brian Beaury, kept reminding him to make sure Williams saw action.

In Denmark, Williams averaged 17.1 points per game and shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range.

“I said (to Williams), ‘Just play the way you’re capable of playing,’” Brown said. “‘Don’t worry about fitting in. It will all take care of itself.’”