G/F: Kam Williams (FR)
Height/Weight: 6’8”/190 lbs.
Previous School: Tulane
2024-25 Stats: 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 41.2% 3pt
Offensive Impact
Williams will be providing most of his offensive value in the catch and shoot department. 91st percentile in catch and shoot efficiency in his freshman year at Tulane.
96th percentile on guarded catch and shoot attempts. He has a quick release with deep range as a spot up shooter, so it is difficult for opposing defenders to get a hand up quick enough.
Grades out a bit worse when unguarded (61st percentile), and a good amount of his looks will be open due to Pope’s offense putting shooters in spots to succeed + he will be in a lower usage role, but the lower efficiency shouldn’t be anything to be concerned about.
Was often planted in the corner to open up driving lanes at Tulane, and his role will most likely be similar this season as a Wildcat. Grades out better as a pure spot up shooter than as a movement shooter (81st percentile in spot up, 41st percentile off screens). The lack of lift on Williams’ jump shot hurts his ability on the move as a shooter.
There is no real creation or playmaking aspect to Williams’ offensive game yet. Will attack closeouts off the bounce but that is about all we have seen so far in his young career. 90th percentile as a rim scorer, and he has the ability to score over the top of defenses with his plus athleticism, but most of his rim scoring volume comes from back cuts.
Can easily see his game expanding in year 2 of college hoops, but he will still be limited to being a catch and shoot role player on this offense.
12% usage rate, and 141 3pt attempts compared to 77 2pt attempts last season. Hard to see Williams receiving more usage within a more talented offense.
Williams will be an important piece to Kentucky’s offense from day 1 due to his floor spacing, but he is not a transfer that everyone at big blue nation is going to be overwhelmed by right away. His perimeter presence will open up driving lanes for Lowe, Aberdeen, and Oweh (if he returns), and Williams will make teams pay when they collapse on the Wildcats’ primary dribble creators. He has tough shoes to fill replacing the Koby Brea/Jaxson Robinson type role and I consider him a downgrade in the short term, but he is valuable in a spacing driven Mark Pope offense.
Defensive Impact
Williams is somewhat difficult to evaluate as a defender due to the fact he played within a zone defense almost exclusively. 78.3% zone usage for Tulane last season.
FWIW, he had the best defensive BPM in Tulane's starting lineup (+1.6).
3.9% block rate and 2.7% steal rate are impressive for his position as well.
Appears to be versatile as a perimeter defender. Can guard 1-3 with competency. This is an important aspect of Pope’s drop coverage scheme that wants to limit quality rim and 3 attempts.
Has a solid combination of length and lateral quickness to contest shots at an above average level.
Thin frame and is often overwhelmed by size on the interior. Smaller guards can initiate contact and knock him backward to create space as well.
It remains to be seen how much value he can bring as a man-to-man defender, but I can confidently say he will at least be a slightly above average perimeter defender because of his physical traits. There could be somewhat of a learning curve to playing in a primarily man defense for the first time at the college level, but he should be a true 3 and D piece that Mark Pope loves having multiple of on his roster.