After spending his freshman season at Tulane, Kam Williams is taking on a bigger challenge after transferring to Kansas, one of the most iconic programs in college basketball history.
Williams will play under Mark Pope for the 2025-26 season, who is already offering advice to improve Williams’ game.
Talking with BBN Tonight’s Maggie Davis on Tuesday, Williams explained how Pope constantly pushes him to shoot the ball.
Mark Pope wants Kam Williams to shoot
“He always tells me, ‘Shoot the ball. If you’re a shooter, shoot the ball,’” Williams said. “The staff tells me the same thing. In practice, sometimes I might pass up a few. If you won’t shoot, somebody else will.”
Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope
Kentucky comes from a positive 2024-25 season, in which they made it to the NCAA tournament. They posted a 24-12 (10-8 Southeastern Conference) record that ended at the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
Pope, who played for the university from 1994 through 1996, has high expectations ahead of his second year at the helm. Kam Williams was the first player to transfer to the school in March and they’re working to get the best out of him.
The 2024-25 season of the Tulane Green Wave finished with a 19-15 record (12-6 in the conference) after they lost to the USC Trojans on April 1.
Williams played 33 games (started 28) during his first season in college, averaging 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 48.5% from the field, 41.2% from deep and 76% from the free-throw line. The 4.6 3-point attempts aren’t good enough for a shooter and Pope wants that to change.
