Kam Williams didn’t dominate the headlines after Kentucky’s 72-60 win over Indiana - not with Mo Dioubate returning to the lineup and Jaland Lowe logging his most significant minutes in a month. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find Williams was one of the most impactful players on the floor.
He finished with nine points on 3-for-5 shooting, including a clean 1-for-2 from beyond the arc. Add in two rebounds, a blocked shot, and 24 minutes of steady, two-way play, and you’ve got a performance that mattered more than the box score might suggest. When Williams was on the court, Kentucky outscored Indiana by 15 - the third-best plus-minus on the team, trailing only Lowe (+24) and Dioubate (+18).
That kind of impact isn’t a fluke. It’s a sign of a player who’s starting to figure things out.
Williams, a 6-foot-8 sophomore transfer from Tulane, arrived in Lexington with a reputation as a sharpshooter. He knocked down 41% of his threes last season and was viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, thanks to his size, athleticism, and a 7-foot wingspan that makes scouts pay attention.
But so far this season, the shot hasn’t been falling. He’s averaging just 4.6 points in 18.5 minutes per game, shooting 40.8% from the field and a chilly 21.2% from deep.
Still, Williams is proving he doesn’t need to be hot from three to help Kentucky win games.
“He’s been our best defensive player,” head coach Mark Pope said on Thursday. “He’s doing an unbelievable job on that side of the ball.”
That’s not just coach-speak. According to CBB Analytics, Williams ranks in the top 75% nationally in defensive rebounding and the 95th percentile in block rate among wing players. He’s using his length and instincts to disrupt opponents, and that’s earning him minutes even while his offensive game is still catching up.
Pope sees the offensive breakout coming - and soon. He’s not shy about his belief in Williams’ long-term potential.
“He’s getting more bold and more comfortable on the offensive side of the ball,” Pope said. “He’s got a massive ceiling. We’re not even seeing the beginnings of what he can be.”
It’s not hard to see why Pope is so bullish. Williams has the kind of skill set that doesn’t come around often: a rangy wing who can guard multiple positions, rebound, protect the rim, and - when he’s locked in - stretch the floor with his shooting. Even with the early-season shooting slump, Pope is betting that the numbers will eventually align with the player they know he can be.
“He’s a guy who at any given moment could go on a tear and make 30 or 35 threes over the course of six games, right?” Pope said.
“It’s just who he is. All the numbers eventually work themselves out to kind of represent who guys are as players, and he’s an elite-level shooter.”
That belief isn’t just about what Williams has done - it’s about what he’s capable of doing. And with Kentucky still finding its identity in the early part of the season, Williams could be a key piece to unlocking the team’s full potential.
“There’s a lot of guys on this team that I think are gonna look so much different as we progress through the season, and [Williams is] one of them,” Pope said. “I think he’s got a huge high ceiling. It’s just a matter of time and reps and belief and experience for him to get there, but he’s got so much to offer this game.”
For now, Williams is making his mark with defense, energy, and smart play. But if that shooting stroke comes around - and Pope is betting it will - Kentucky might have another difference-maker on its hands, one who’s just getting started.