Tulane transfer forward Kam Williams didn’t hesitate to pledge his commitment to Kentucky, becoming the Wildcats’ first pickup from the transfer portal this offseason. Just four days after entering the portal, he announced his decision to join UK on March 28 — despite never having stepped foot in Lexington.

While Kentucky’s coaching staff was juggling NCAA Tournament preparations for a Sweet 16 matchup against Tennessee and recruiting efforts, their conversations with Williams made a strong impact and gave him confidence in his choice.

“My family and I watched some of their games to get a sense of their playing style. Kentucky was among the first schools to reach out to me, and that initial contact was really important,” Williams told The Cats’ Pause during a phone interview. “From there, we needed to evaluate if they met everything I was looking for. After a Zoom meeting with Coach (Pope), he welcomed us in and showed a genuine interest. The staff explained their process for supporting players, how much they care, and the effort they put into helping players succeed. I want to be successful — I think everyone does — but hearing how they treat their team and the strong culture they’ve created really stood out to me. That’s something I wanted to be part of.”

“With several seniors leaving, they saw how my playing style could really work within their system. I’m not sure if I was their top priority, but it definitely felt that way,” Williams added. “They contacted me so quickly, and that alone showed how serious they were. The fact that they identified me as a great fit for what they run — it made the opportunity impossible to pass up.”