Jamichael Stillwell Is Owning the Paint and Leading UCF’s Breakout Start
In a season that started with more questions than answers, Jamichael Stillwell has become the steady hand UCF desperately needed-and he’s doing it with force on both ends of the floor. The senior forward has stepped into a major role for the Knights, and he’s not just filling the gaps left by offseason departures-he’s redefining what UCF’s frontcourt can be.
Let’s rewind for a second. UCF came into this season without Moustapha Thiam and Benny Williams, two key pieces from last year’s frontcourt rotation.
That kind of loss can derail a team’s identity, especially when it comes to rim protection and interior scoring. But enter Stillwell, a 6'8" forward who averaged a double-double last year at Milwaukee.
He hasn’t just picked up where others left off-he’s raised the bar.
Through 11 games, Stillwell is averaging 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest, already stacking up five double-doubles. That production earned him a spot in the Big 12 Starting Five-an honor given weekly to the conference’s top performers-and he’s continued to back it up with back-to-back double-doubles since. The Knights are off to a 10-1 start, and Stillwell’s fingerprints are all over it.
What’s even more impressive is how efficient and versatile he’s become. He’s shooting a career-best 56.2% from the field, knocking down threes at a 36.4% clip, and hitting nearly 73% of his free throws-all personal highs. That kind of shooting touch from a big man adds a whole new dimension to UCF’s offense.
But don’t let the offensive numbers distract from what he’s doing defensively. Stillwell has shown he can switch onto guards without getting burned and bang with opposing bigs without getting into foul trouble-he’s averaging just two fouls per game.
He’s also swiping 1.5 steals a night, which is no small feat for a frontcourt player. That kind of two-way presence is rare, and it’s giving UCF the kind of flexibility that can make them dangerous in Big 12 play.
Stillwell’s leadership has been just as important as his stat line. He’s vocal, grounded, and clearly focused on the bigger picture.
After a recent win over Mercer, he didn’t get caught up in the hype of the Knights’ hot start. Instead, he pointed toward the looming challenge of Big 12 play, specifically the January 3rd home opener against Kansas.
“I feel like that January 3rd game is going to give us a real test run,” Stillwell said. “Win, lose, or draw, I feel like that’s going to show us how far we can go in the Big 12.”
That’s a senior who gets it. He knows the non-conference wins are nice, but the real proving ground is ahead. And if UCF is going to make noise in their first Big 12 campaign, Stillwell will be at the center of it-literally and figuratively.
This isn’t the first time Stillwell has made an immediate impact. Last year at Milwaukee, in his first season of Division I basketball after stints at Miami Dade College and Butler Community College, he made history as the only player in program history to average a double-double.
He was named First Team All-Horizon League and took home Newcomer of the Year honors. That kind of trajectory doesn’t happen by accident.
Now, in his first season at the Power Four level, he’s proving that his game translates. Playing under head coach Johnny Dawkins and alongside fellow Milwaukee transfer Themus Fulks, Stillwell has found a rhythm-and it’s one that could carry UCF into uncharted territory.
As conference play approaches, the Knights will need Stillwell’s rebounding, defense, and leadership more than ever. If his current pace holds, he’s on track to break Tacko Fall’s program record for most double-doubles in a season. That’s not just a nice stat-it’s a sign that UCF has a foundational piece in place as they step into the gauntlet of Big 12 basketball.
Bottom line: Jamichael Stillwell isn’t just holding it down in the paint-he’s anchoring a team that’s starting to believe it can do something special.