With the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics selected Kentucky Wildcats center Amari Williams.

Williams came to Kentucky from Drexel, where he was a three-time Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Year as well as a three-time leader in the CAA in blocked shots.

Making a huge leap to Kentucky and the gauntlet that was the SEC last season, Williams kept getting better and better throughout the season. Starting all 36 games, Williams averaged 10.9 points and a team-best 8.5 rebounds. In addition, Williams led the team with a 56.1 field goal percentage.

But the most impressive part of Williams’s season was tying for the team lead with 115 assists. Yes, that’s right. The seven-footer from Nottingham, England, tied for the team lead in assists.

Last year, he and Auburn’s Johni Broome became the first two players in SEC history to have 375+ points, 300+ rebounds, 100+ assists, 40+ blocks, and 20+ steals in a single season.

Williams’s frontcourt presence and ability to step out and play from the high post and perimeter are going to be beneficial for a Boston team in a bit of a rebuild and could be losing Al Horford in NBA free agency. Williams may have been overlooked last season when he transferred to Kentucky, but he quickly became one of Kentucky’s most important players.

His ascent could continue in the NBA with the Cs.

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• Ernesto Manuel-Andres, a Guatemalan immigrant with special juvenile immigrant status, was released on bond after 20 days in ICE custody.
• Manuel-Andres, 18, was detained despite having SIJ status and a deferred action grant, which previously protected him from deportation while awaiting a visa.
• The Bowling Green, Kentucky community rallied behind Manuel-Andres, raising funds and holding protests for his release.

A Kentucky teen has returned home after more than 20 days in federal custody, despite his status as a special juvenile immigrant awaiting a visa.

Ernesto Manuel-Andres, 18, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a June 4 raid alongside his father at their apartment complex in Bowling Green, according to a local advocate familiar with his case.

In the weeks that followed, a stunned community of teachers, friends and supporters held protests, prayers and vigils, calling for Manuel-Andres’s return. They raised over $30,000 for his bond and legal fees through a GoFundMe, and nonprofit organizers drove 11 hours to Louisiana to visit him while he was detained.

On June 23, a Louisiana judge set Manuel-Andres’ bond at $1,500, the lowest legal limit. A day later, he was released.

In a press release from Fugees Family, an Ohio-based nonprofit that partners with school districts to improve education for immigrants, Manuel-Andres said he was “very happy” to be released and thanked those who supported him.

“I’d like to say ‘Thank you for all of it, for prayers, for support, for everything,’” Manuel-Andres wrote.

But despite community support and a previous Kentucky court order advocates say should protect him from deportation, Manuel-Andres’ future is uncertain.

Gabriel Spellberg, one of Manuel-Andres’ lawyers, said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has the option to appeal the bond order within 30 days, and Manuel-Andres could be re-detained if the Board of Immigration Appeals repeals the Louisiana judge’s bond determination.

Here’s what to know about Manuel-Andres’ case so far.

A Catch-22

Advocates for Manuel-Andres said the Guatemalan native has both special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) status and a grant for deferred action by DHS, which should protect him from removal orders while he awaits a visa. SIJ status is only given to those under 18 who have a valid court order proving abuse, abandonment, neglect or another reason it is not in a minor’s best interests to return to their country of nationality or be reunified with one or both parents.

A band from Eastern Kentucky stole the spotlight in Hollywood last night. Bill Taylor, a truck driver from Middlesboro, and his band, the “Appalachian Heathens,” performed a cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” on Tuesday’s episode of “America’s Got Talent.” Their soulful rendition of Bob Dylan’s classic was enough to earn a place in the second round and unanimous praise from the panel of judges.

“A great voice and a great American sound,” Howie Mandel said as the applause died down.

“That was like musical Levi’s,” AGT creator Simon Cowell joked. “It was so American and so authentic. I loved. Genuinely loved that. Your voice is fantastic.”

“I think that was really unexpected,” former Spice Girl Mel B said. “You are all really good at what you do. I can see you’re a very tight, well-rehearsed band, and I’m just really excited for you guys. Very excited for you guys.”

“I’m very excited for you, too, because I think you guys made the best decision to come to AGT,” actress Sofia Vergara added. “The whole thing was perfect. This is the kind of stuff that deserves to be on this stage.”

All four judges voted “yes” to the band’s audition, a rarity for the panel. So far, the video has over 150,000 views on YouTube, making it one of the most-viewed of the night.

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WBIR in Knoxville caught up with the band to talk about their big Hollywood moment. Taylor, age 35, said he has been involved in music his entire life, singing in the church throughout his childhood and playing in a cover band in his 20s; however, he was inspired to start writing his own music after seeing fellow Kentucky native Tyler Childers perform live. He put a band together in 2022, and they’ve been jamming ever since. His dad is one of the members, also playing guitar.

“I like to holler a lot,” Taylor told WBIR. “So, when I sing, I like to, not scream, but I like to get loud.”

Joe Cox, the band’s drummer, describes their sound as “front porch music,” crediting the revival of Appalachian music in recent years for their success so far.

“Just anything that hits,” Taylor added. “It ain’t always got to be sad music, I got songs that just talk about the woods, things I’ve saw… mawma rocking on the porch, complaining about her arthritis, is her hand says it’s about to rain.”

We’ll be cheering Taylor and the Appalachian Heathens on in the next round. Until then, you can enjoy more of their music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and social media channels.