NC A&T might have landed the most underrated player in the portal when Kam Woods committed to the Aggie program a few weeks ago.
The accolades are endless for the kid from Bessemer, Alabama. After averaging 38.1 points per game in 2018 at Midfield high school, Woods finished his high school career with 3,871 points. In that stretch, he reached 40 points in ten games, hitting at least three three-pointers in 50 games.
College would be more of the same as Woods averaged 10.3 points per game in his first season at Troy and a won JUCO national championship the next season.
Safe to say, the kid is a bucket getter.
“I was trying to prove myself to college coaches and the older people that they were comparing me to,” Woods told The Portal Report, “At the end of the day, you always want to have a good reputation in your city.”
The Marvel City has seen some good athletes pass through including Bo Jackson and Jameis Winston, both Heisman Trophy winners. Woods might not be on their level just yet, but he has time to grow and could be the next star of the city.
After a strong freshman season at Troy, Woods transferred over to JUCO powerhouse Northwest Florida State College in the hope to find a better fit. He did more than just that, leading the Raiders to a JUCO national championship.
“I wish I would’ve went JUCO first year, but everything happens for a reason,” Woods said, “That was crazy. Everything we went through, everyday each day we work. People complaining, just ups and down. Everyone on that team sacrificed big. Anybody could’ve went out there and averaged 20. Everybody had to put up 10 to win, play defense, do stuff we didn’t do in high school.”
Woods averaged 11.1 points per game this past season before finding his way back to the D1 ranks and at a higher level with the Aggie program.
“It’s different, that put me back into my high school feeling. Coach Shum (Phillip Shumpert) welcomed me, he made me feel like I knew him my whole life. I just met him. I didn’t even feel that with GH (Former Northwest Florida State College coach Greg Heiar) and he was a great coach. But me going there, especially on the visit. They got me right there, as soon as I got there, I knew I was committed,” Woods said.
The Aggies head coach, Will Jones was recently an assistant at Northwest Florida State College so they had that connection. Coach Shumpert was one of the greatest coaches in Alabama JUCO history, sending 26 players to the D1 level and churning out winning season after winning season. It’s safe to say that everything about the staff was appealing.
Woods plans on being a leader and bringing more than just his scoring. If someone has their head down, he’ll immediately pick it up.
Woods should immediately become an impact player in the CAA for NC A&T, choosing the Aggies over Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Alabama State, Chattanooga and New Mexico State.
