Kentucky’s Kam Williams Undergoes Surgery for Jones Fracture, Recovery Timeline Uncertain
Kentucky sophomore wing Kam Williams is facing a tough road ahead after undergoing surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot - the same injury that sidelined teammate Kerr Kriisa earlier this season.
Williams suffered the injury during last week’s win over Texas and had the procedure on Friday. His father, Greg Williams, confirmed the nature of the injury and the surgery, which inserted a screw into the fifth metatarsal - the long bone along the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe. It’s a notoriously tricky area to heal due to limited blood flow, which makes recovery timelines unpredictable.
“It’s basically like a stress fracture,” Greg Williams explained. “Kam came here from Tulane weighing 190 and now he’s almost 210, so he’s been running on an extra 20 pounds causing a little stress on his feet. We think that is what led to the Jones fracture.”
At the time of the injury, the 6-foot-8 transfer was averaging 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. While the numbers don’t leap off the page, Williams had been trending upward - growing more comfortable in his role and carving out a niche in a deep Wildcats rotation.
Now, he’s sidelined indefinitely, unable to travel or participate in team activities. “Getting through that initial pain with medication, he can’t travel, can’t do anything but play the PlayStation. He’s watching the games,” said Greg Williams.
Even in recovery, Kam’s mind hasn’t drifted far from his teammates. After surgery, his first call was to his family - but the next one was to his teammates. That speaks volumes about the kind of presence he’s been in the locker room.
“He’s going through a very serious situation, but he’s thinking about his teammates,” said Greg.
As with any Jones fracture, the timeline is murky. Recovery typically falls in the six-to-eight-week range, but it all hinges on how well the bone heals and how Williams responds to rehab. The injury occurred nearly six weeks after Kriisa’s, meaning any potential return would likely push deeper into the season - if he returns at all.
“He’s gonna fight to do everything he can to come back,” Greg Williams said. “That just depends on his body and the doctors. They never let players dictate because if that’s the case, he’d be probable for Tuesday at Vanderbilt.”
That last line says a lot about Kam’s mentality - he wants to be out there. But the coaching staff is taking a long view, and that’s exactly what you want to see from a program looking out for its players beyond just the season.
Greg Williams acknowledged the risk of re-injury is low if the foot fully heals, but it’s still something they’re factoring into every step of the process.
“He has to be able to come back and play without reservation,” Greg said. “If he has to play with reservation, then that doesn’t really help him to play because you’re gonna play scared.
You can’t play wanting to avoid injury. You have to play trying to gain a victory.”
For now, it’s all about the details - sleep, nutrition, keeping the foot elevated, and following doctor’s orders to the letter. The six-to-eight-week recovery window is the best-case scenario, but nothing is guaranteed.
And while Kam Williams hasn’t ruled out a return this season, the Wildcats aren’t pushing him. Head coach Mark Pope, according to Greg, has emphasized that Kam’s health comes first - not just for the team’s sake, but for the player’s future.
“I got a call from Coach Pope and he said, ‘We would like him to play, but he has more ahead of him than he has behind him,’” Greg shared. “He’s really concerned about Kam the person right now with his injury. If it’s possible for him to come back, then he’s gonna start thinking about Kam the player.”
That kind of leadership matters. It’s easy to focus on wins and losses, especially in a high-pressure program like Kentucky. But Pope and his staff are making it clear that they’re playing the long game - and Kam Williams is still very much part of that picture.
“He hasn’t packed it in yet,” Greg Williams said.
And that’s the key. Kam Williams may be sidelined, but he’s still in the fight.