Though Kentucky basketball still is in the middle of an NCAA Tournament run, coach Mark Pope and his staff are already building next season’s roster.
One piece of that came Friday: Kam Williams, who just wrapped up his freshman season at Tulane before hitting the transfer portal, committed to UK. Williams announced his decision to ESPN, admitting to the network “not many people get opportunities” to play for a program as prestigious as Kentucky.
“So I wanted to pull the trigger fast,” Williams told ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony. “More people are waiting to fill that spot, so I had to take advantage.”
The 6-foot-8, 190-pound Williams averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1 block per game for the Green Wave during the 2024-25 season. He also shot a team-best 41.2% (63 for 153) beyond the 3-point line en route to netting All-American Athletic Conference Freshman Team laurels.
“I had a solid year, but not the season I needed to be where I want to be just yet,” Williams said. “Another year will help me develop my understanding of the game and put me in the best light possible in the eyes of NBA teams. It’s not just about making the NBA, but sticking.”
