Mark Pope confident in Kam Williams: “He’s going to be a terrific player”

As Kentucky gets ready for its second game of the season, head coach Mark Pope was asked Thursday about freshman forward Kam Williams, who’s still searching for his rhythm in his first few appearances as a Wildcat.

When asked, Pope said Williams’ current growing pains aren’t about whether he can play at this level. They’re more about learning to fit into Kentucky’s new group, a challenge that isn’t unique to Williams.

“I don’t know if it’s playing at this level,” Pope explained. “It’s just, our guys are figuring each other out. And that’s going to be—I mean, that’s every team in the country. It just is what it is. There’s just a process of trying to figure out how you feel and where you feel and how you fit and what works.”

Williams joined the Wildcats this offseason after one year at Tulane, where he averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three. The 6-foot-8 forward showed flashes of athleticism and versatility with the Green Wave, earning a reputation as a wing with size and a capable shooter with NBA potential.

Through Kentucky’s first outing of the season, Williams is still searching for that same comfort level he had at Tulane. In 18 minutes against Nicholls State, he finished with two points, two rebounds, and one assist while shooting 1-for-3 from the field. He also struggled in both exhibition games, scoring six points on 2-for-6 shooting against Purdue, and going 0-for-5 from the field and 0-for-2 at the line against Georgetown.

“He’s going to be a terrific player.”

Even with some early struggles, Mark Pope expressed confidence in Kam Williams’ long-term potential.

“Kam has got such a massive upside. He’s going to be a terrific player. And right now he’s trying to figure out, you know, like all of our guys, just how this thing works.”

Williams and the Wildcats return to Rupp Arena on Friday night to host Valparaiso in Game 2 of the regular season and the BBN United Tipoff Classic presented by Kentucky Tourism.

Watch Mark Pope’s Thursday press conference in its entirety here.