NBA Comparison: Cam Johnson / Trey Murphy III

Strengths:  A long, smooth 6’8” wing with prototypical NBA athleticism, excellent positional size, and a 7-foot wingspan … Showed advanced maturity as a freshman at Tulane, playing within himself and impacting both ends consistently … Averaged 9.3 points per game while shooting 48.5% from the field and 41.2% from three (63-of-153), flashing one of the more projectable jumpers among returning prospects … Did most of his scoring as a spot-up shooter, spacing the floor and knocking down open looks with a repeatable follow through and clean mechanics … Gets his feet set quickly and has range out to the NBA line … Moves well without the ball, understands spacing concepts, and finds openings with sharp cuts and off-ball awareness … Not just a specialist, has upside as a secondary scorer who can attack closeouts and finish above the rim using long strides, vertical pop, and body control … Effective in transition with fluid open-court movement and coordination … Crashes the offensive glass and can convert second-chance opportunities with quick leaping and length … Defensively, he’s well ahead of most peers, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while guarding multiple positions … Uses his wingspan and instincts to jump passing lanes, switch onto guards and wings, and contest shots without fouling … Shows solid team defensive instincts, communicates, rotates well, and stays engaged … Makes sound decisions with the ball, posting a 1.3 to 0.8 assist-to-turnover ratio while avoiding over-dribbling or forcing plays … Versatile enough to play either forward spot and could grow into a modern stretch four depending on matchups … High-character, low-maintenance prospect with strong feel, two-way tools, and long-term starter potential at the next level, with upside to be more if his offensive game continues to evolve …

Weaknesses: Still developing as a creator off the dribble and lacks much in terms of advanced ball-handling moves … Handles are basic and more functional than creative, which limits his ability to beat defenders in isolation or create quality looks late in the shot clock … Relies heavily on others to generate his scoring opportunities and hasn’t yet shown the ability to break down defenses in pick-and-roll or ISO settings … Most of his offense comes off spot-up looks, transition plays, or cuts, so improving self-creation is a critical next step … His shot mechanics can use some tweaking. He tends to bring the ball too low on release and shoots from his chest with limited elevation, which could make it easier for longer defenders to contest his shot at the next level … While his touch is very good, adding more consistency to his release point and improving rhythm off movement will be important as he transitions into a bigger offensive role … Lacks a reliable mid-range pull-up game and rarely creates shots off screens or in short-clock situations … Finishing through contact remains inconsistent, as he still needs to add strength to his 200-pound frame … While his decision-making is solid overall, he’s not much of a playmaker and has yet to show the ability to pass on the move or read second-level defenses …  Defensively, while he has elite tools, his technique and fundamentals can still improve. He sometimes gambles for steals and loses focus off the ball, leaving backdoor cuts open … Must also learn to fight through screens more consistently at the next level, as NBA wings and guards will test his discipline and ability to stay attached … Overall, Kentucky’s increased level of competition in the SEC will be a significant test of whether he can round out these areas of his game and become more than a complementary shooter/defender …

Outlook: Williams enters the 2025–26 season as one of the top returning prospects in college basketball… He is currently projected to go in the mid-lottery on NBADraft.net, which is notably higher than most consensus boards at this stage, but look for his projections to gain momentum as scouts get more eyes on him over the summer and in SEC play … After an efficient and mature freshman season at Tulane, the move to Kentucky gives him a chance to prove himself against elite competition and earn a larger spotlight … With Kentucky projected to field a deep and talented roster, becoming one of the team’s main standouts will be key … If he continues to shoot the ball at a high level, and become more proficient in ISO situations, he has the capability to make the jump from freshman contributor to college standout and solidify his status as a projected lottery pick … With his size, length, shooting touch, and athletic tools, Williams brings a high floor as a 3-and-D contributor and the upside to develop into a modern, starting-caliber wing at the next level …

Notes: Born January 1, 2006 … Native of Lafayette, Louisiana … 2024–25 stats at Tulane: 33 games, 32.3 minutes, 48.5% FG, 41.2% 3P (63-153), 76.0% FT, 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.4 steals, 1.6 fouls, 0.8 turnovers …Played high school basketball at Lafayette Christian Academy, where he emerged as a wing prospect with intriguing length and upside … Averaged a double-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game as a HS junior, showcasing his scoring, rebounding, and playmaking ability at the high school level … Committed to Tulane and made an immediate impact as a true freshman in the American Athletic Conference, earning AAC All-Freshman Team honors … Transferred to Kentucky for the 2025–26 season …

Aran Smith 7/18/25