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A somewhat forgotten man -- Kam Williams

MdWIldcat55

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,383
85,653
113
First, Kentucky absolutely needs to sign an elite wing scorer -- I hope Momcilovic, but certainly someone.

But I think it is worth a look back at Kam Williams. We all had huge expectations for him at the start of last season. 6'8" quick and athletic, capable of very good defense and a near-40 percent shooter from 3 for his career. He started out slow. It definitely took him a while to adjust to a new level of competition. But he looked ready to really come into his own for a while, with some good games against St. John's, Indiana, Mississippi state -- then he got hurt, and was never really the same.

I think he can be a very useful piece in the coming year, maybe 15-20 minutes a game backing up both of the wing positions. He'll have a year in the system, maybe be a little bigger and stronger, and certainly much more comfortable. He's got elite size and quickness and there is no reason he can't resume his career shooting percentages. And I noted late in the year when he came back he was a growing more aggressive about attacking the basket—like he’d learned while sitting out.

You have to have seven or eight very good players to have a competitive team, and I think he'll be one of them.
 
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BBNinSCar

BBNinSCar

All-Conference
Apr 23, 2013
1,458
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I just read another post about Wilkins’ potential and now this one. Is it possible we might have a pretty good roster? I think we may have a tougher, grittier roster than last season at the least. We got absolutely punked by any team that played hard.
 
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E

Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
4,231
5,791
82
BBNinSCar said:
I just read another post about Wilkins’ potential and now this one. Is it possible we might have a pretty good roster? I think we may have a tougher, grittier roster than last season at the least. We got absolutely punked by any team that played hard.
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No. But it is possible people aren’t very knowledgeable about basketball AND are absolutely desperate for UK to be good at basketball again. So they try to rationalize this craptastic roster any way they can.
 
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FitchandMurray29

All-American
Dec 11, 2021
2,693
5,637
61
Just for reference, “maybe 15-20 minutes per game”. He played 18.5 last year and probably expects more this year.

He’s a tough guy to build a roster around. Too good to park on the bench, not enough of a star to guarantee 30 minutes to.

If I’m being honest Pope would’ve probably been better off only retaining Hawthorne for much less money as the bench wing and then got a top 30 portal SF(assuming he could actually pay them enough to overcome them not wanting to play for him and that he would’ve backed off Stokes)
 
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LarryLegend9

LarryLegend9

Senior
Apr 24, 2026
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FitchandMurray29 said:
Just for reference, “maybe 15-20 minutes per game”. He played 18.5 last year and probably expects more this year.

He’s a tough guy to build a roster around. Too good to park on the bench, not enough of a star to guarantee 30 minutes to.

If I’m being honest Pope would’ve probably been better off only retaining Hawthorne for much less money as the bench wing and then got a top 30 portal SF(assuming he could actually pay them enough to overcome them not wanting to play for him and that he would’ve backed off Stokes)
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Hawthorne is a player that might surprise us this season.
 
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DudahUK

DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
6,998
11,105
113
Cowtown Cat said:
This! There’s a world where we can be solid to elite at the 3 spot, via Hawthorne and Kam. Tons of potential in those two guys. It hasn’t come to fruition, yet. However, Hawthorne didn’t even play last season. He was a top 35 rated player in a LOADED class!
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100. Also a world it could be the complete opposite too and that scares me.
 
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U

ukfan042

Senior
Jul 14, 2025
330
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Tri-Countycat said:
I like Kam a lot but he is gonna have to show that he can dribble and go ISO, can’t just depend on the 3. He is gonna have to attack the glass and get to the free throw line.
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That’s my point too! He has to drive and be aggressive getting to the rim. He can’t just float on the perimeter. If he was a more aggressive player, I think he could be a 25-28 mpg player at the 3
 
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LarryLegend9

LarryLegend9

Senior
Apr 24, 2026
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Cowtown Cat said:
This! There’s a world where we can be solid to elite at the 3 spot, via Hawthorne and Kam. Tons of potential in those two guys. It hasn’t come to fruition, yet. However, Hawthorne didn’t even play last season. He was a top 35 rated player in a LOADED class!
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I believe to compete with the top half of the conference, the returning players are going to have to be significantly better than last season.
 
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LarryLegend9

LarryLegend9

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Apr 24, 2026
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DudahUK said:
Honestly, even if they do. We aren’t competing for a thing. Ranked outside the top 40 preseason? I know that’s not the end all be all but when is the last time that even happened? Probation?
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I’ve said it a few times in threads on here that I don’t think this roster has the talent to place above 5th place in the SEC. I look for them to place anywhere from 5th-10th.
 
DudahUK

DudahUK

Heisman
Jul 23, 2020
6,998
11,105
113
LarryLegend9 said:
I’ve said it a few times in threads on here that I don’t think this roster has the talent to place above 5th place in the SEC. I look for them to place anywhere from 5th-10th.
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Still think that’s pushing it. We won’t be good, at all I’m afraid.
 
AllBall

AllBall

All-American
May 5, 2015
4,876
6,397
93
MdWIldcat55 said:
First, Kentucky absolutely needs to sign an elite wing scorer -- I hope Momcilovic, but certainly someone.

But I think it is worth a look back at Kam Williams. We all had huge expectations for him at the start of last season. 6'8" quick and athletic, capable of very good defense and a near-40 percent shooter from 3 for his career. He started out slow. It definitely took him a while to adjust to a new level of competition. But he looked ready to really come into his own for a while, with some good games against St. John's, Indiana, Mississippi state -- then he got hurt, and was never really the same.

I think he can be a very useful piece in the coming year, maybe 15-20 minutes a game backing up both of the wing positions. He'll have a year in the system, maybe be a little bigger and stronger, and certainly much more comfortable. He's got elite size and quickness and there is no reason he can't resume his career shooting percentages. And I noted late in the year when he came back he was a growing more aggressive about attacking the basket—like he’d learned while sitting out.

You have to have seven or eight very good players to have a competitive team, and I think he'll be one of them.
Click to expand...
His game has to progress to include things inside the 3 pt line. In order to take the next step Kam needs start attacking some off the dribble and rebound on both ends. If he improves in those areas it'll be a major plus.
 
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2

20MRoster

All-Conference
Nov 16, 2018
1,218
2,433
108
In order to be forgotten, don't you have to do something worth remembering in the first place?
 
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BC_Wader

BC_Wader

All-American
Aug 13, 2021
4,669
8,726
113
BBNinSCar said:
I just read another post about Wilkins’ potential and now this one. Is it possible we might have a pretty good roster? I think we may have a tougher, grittier roster than last season at the least. We got absolutely punked by any team that played hard.
Click to expand...
I don't know, man. We beat UT twice and they always play hard. That point just further hammers home the head scratching season we just had.
 
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M

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,961
16,317
113
FitchandMurray29 said:
Just for reference, “maybe 15-20 minutes per game”. He played 18.5 last year and probably expects more this year.

He’s a tough guy to build a roster around. Too good to park on the bench, not enough of a star to guarantee 30 minutes to.

If I’m being honest Pope would’ve probably been better off only retaining Hawthorne for much less money as the bench wing and then got a top 30 portal SF(assuming he could actually pay them enough to overcome them not wanting to play for him and that he would’ve backed off Stokes)
Click to expand...
Yes, he averaged 18.5 mins last year, 22.2 in conference. I seem to remember he played some stretch 4, too, but I could be wrong.
Here are his stats ...
www.sports-reference.com

Kam Williams College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Kam Williams - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more
www.sports-reference.com www.sports-reference.com
 
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BC_Wader

BC_Wader

All-American
Aug 13, 2021
4,669
8,726
113
I'm excited for Kam next season. He was coming into his own before the injury. While his form is unorthodox, he has unlimited range on his jump shots. His play off the bounce and his defense were really coming on before the foot injury. It was obvious he was being used as a spot up shooter only in his return. I'm looking forward to see if he can continue what he started.
 
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paulcalhoun_rivals397471

paulcalhoun_rivals397471

All-American
Aug 23, 2024
2,225
5,126
113
AllBall said:
His game has to progress to include things inside the 3 pt line. In order to take the next step Kam needs start attacking some off the dribble and rebound on both ends. If he improves in those areas it'll be a major plus.
Click to expand...
He does need to be more aggressive in creating more opportunities but he did shoot 69% on two's last season. Part of his limited attempts can be attributed to who he was playing with.
 
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paulcalhoun_rivals397471

paulcalhoun_rivals397471

All-American
Aug 23, 2024
2,225
5,126
113
20MRoster said:
In order to be forgotten, don't you have to do something worth remembering in the first place?
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Not necessarily. A lot of people were placing high expectations on him going into last season based on potential draft prospects. I was more in wait and see mode but I would say he was pretty in focus for a lot of fans entering the season.
 
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RedwoodHigh

RedwoodHigh

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
805
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93
FitchandMurray29 said:
Just for reference, “maybe 15-20 minutes per game”. He played 18.5 last year and probably expects more this year.

He’s a tough guy to build a roster around. Too good to park on the bench, not enough of a star to guarantee 30 minutes to.

If I’m being honest Pope would’ve probably been better off only retaining Hawthorne for much less money as the bench wing and then got a top 30 portal SF(assuming he could actually pay them enough to overcome them not wanting to play for him and that he would’ve backed off Stokes)
Click to expand...
Hawthorne will be a starter & a future Ky STAR
 
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B

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
41,999
63,977
113
For this team to be significant, Kam does need to display all around improvement. We hope he is working hard on his game now that he has experienced the SEC. He has length and a potentially lethal shot. With Wilkins and Diallo, as well as a center who will demand attention in the paint, he should get a lot of catch and shoot threes. He needs to knock those down at a high percentage. He also needs to be able to pump fake and drive. Finally, at a quick 6’8”, he needs to board. We could be a very long team. If we rebound as a team, we may see more second chance baskets this year. Length and speed will be the emphasis this year around Moreno. Kam fits that bill and needs do consistently display that he is an NBA prospect.
 
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B

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
41,999
63,977
113
Mossip said:
After his 8 threes against the powerhouse known as Bellarmine, he played six more games before the injury.

In those games he was averaging 7.1 points, 1.66 rebounds and 1 assist a game. He was really turning the corner boys!
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We can read the hope the oozes from your post. Yup, quite the fan and basketball aficionado.
 
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Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
41,999
63,977
113
philstat said:
Hope gets one jack **** son, you don’t build legacies and dynasties from hope, they come from results.
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Dude, your friend is hoping Kam will not improve and has shown all he has. You seem to be like minded. And, if you were old enough to call me “son” you would know more about development. But, if all you know is OAD and NIL, you probably are ignorant to that history.
 
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philstat

philstat

Heisman
Jan 3, 2004
10,883
10,298
56
Beatle Bum said:
Dude, your friend is hoping Kam will not improve and has shown all he has. You seem to be like minded. And, if you were old enough to call me “son” you would know more about development. But, if all you know is OAD and NIL, you probably are ignorant to that history.
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He’s not hoping that, he’s being a realist, Kam’s about as one dimensional as a line segment, he’s shown absolutely nothing that puts him as a top tier SF, he will average about 10Ppg, at most, which is fine, though he’s very likely not going to be anything special.
 
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preacherfan

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2003
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