Jonathan GivonyMar 28, 2025, 10:49 AM ET
- NBA draft analyst and writer
Joined ESPN.com in July 2017
Founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams
Former Tulane wing Kam Williams, one of the best shooters in the transfer portal, told ESPN on Friday that he has committed to Mark Pope and Kentucky.
"Not many people get opportunities like this, so I wanted to pull the trigger fast," said Williams, a 19-year-old freshman. "More people are waiting to fill that spot, so I had to take advantage."
Williams, who is 6-foot-8, averaged 9.3 points per game this season, shooting 41% from 3. He says he also considered a long list of schools that included Florida, Louisville, Baylor, Texas, LSU, Texas Tech, Arkansas and USC. He did not visit Kentucky, as the Wildcats are still playing in the NCAA tournament.
Williams says that, ultimately, Pope's style of play, the roster needs at his position and Kentucky's tradition tipped the scales in the Wildcats' favor.
"My dream is to play in the NBA," Williams said. "Kentucky's culture and background shows that they care about their players, especially developing them into the best players they can be."
Williams' combination of size, length, perimeter shooting, defensive versatility (1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks per game) and youth has drawn attention from NBA scouts this season. He was initially planning on testing the NBA draft waters in addition to entering his name in the transfer portal but will wait another year. He'll have a significant platform in Lexington to improve his NBA standing, which he says is one of the reasons he picked Pope and Kentucky.
"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."
No. 3 seed Kentucky plays No. 2 Tennessee in the Sweet 16 in Indianapolis on Friday (7:39 p.m. ET). The Wildcats will see six of their top seven scorers graduate this offseason: Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea, and Ansley Almonor. They will need to add significant additional firepower via the transfer portal.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.
