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# Mark Pope offers an injury update on Kam Williams after preseason opener
- URL: https://www.insidekentuckybasketball.com/mark-pope-offers-an-injury-update-on-kam-williams-after-preseason-opener/
- Published: 2026-10-17T02:44:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-17T02:44:18.000Z
- Description: The junior wing has been sidelined since the summer after undergoing a second surgery for a foot injury suffered during the 2025-26 season.
- Author: Ben Roberts
- Tags: News

Kentucky coach Mark Pope relayed what he called an “extremely positive” status update of Kam Williams following the Wildcats’ 69-49 exhibition victory over Little Rock on Friday night in Rupp Arena.

Williams, who suffered a broken foot in January and had to undergo a second surgery for the injury over the summer, has not yet returned to UK’s practice sessions this fall. But Pope said the junior guard is getting close to joining his Kentucky basketball teammates on the court.

“He's on course,” Pope said. “You know, we're cautiously optimistic, because we've already been through this once. But on this second surgery, the success rate is remarkable. Like the data on it, it's a remarkable rate. So we're very, very optimistic.”

Williams originally suffered the injury during UK’s victory over Texas on Jan. 21 last season. He immediately had surgery to repair the foot injury and rushed back to join the Cats for their postseason run, which began March 11 and included three SEC Tournament games and two outings in the NCAA Tournament.

He continued to participate in basketball activities after the season ended and ultimately missed all of the team’s eight-week summer practice session due to a setback, opting for the second surgery, which has kept him sidelined this fall.

*Inside Kentucky Basketball* has been told that Williams is going through shooting routines and has returned to running and conditioning drills in recent days, but he has not yet participated in full practice sessions.

Pope didn’t put an exact timetable on his return to the court, but he did leave the door open for Williams to come back sometime next month. 

“We're hopefully talking about several weeks to a month right now,” Pope said. “Not months and months. And it's been a long time coming. He had a really good workout today. He was running and jumping in a very, very controlled place. But as we've all seen together with Kam, we have to proceed really cautiously, and we're not going to rush it. This is going to be a long-term recovery.

“But when he gets back, he's going to make a massive difference for us.”

Pope noted that it was especially important to get Williams back on the court after fellow wing player Trent Noah suffered a setback in his return from a hamstring injury earlier this week. Noah had briefly returned to UK’s practice sessions after missing the end of the summer and the start of fall workouts due to the injury. Pope did not disclose a timetable for Noah’s return. 

“With Trent kind of struggling a little bit right now to regain his health, it makes it even more important that we get Kam back on time,” he said. “So we’re hopeful.”

Williams averaged 6.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game last season and had entered UK’s starting lineup at the time of his injury. He’s expected to play a major role when he does return to full health, especially as a versatile defender and 3-point threat.

The 6-foot-7 wing shot 35.9% on 3s last season after going 41.2% from deep as a freshman at Tulane the previous year. 

Kentucky was also missing Jerone Morton on Friday night. 

The transfer guard from Washington State suffered a knee injury earlier this fall and is expected to miss considerable time this season. Pope has not given a timetable for his potential return.

UK’s next exhibition game is set for Oct. 23 against Texas Tech in Rupp Arena, with the regular season opener coming Nov. 3 against Manhattan, also on the Wildcats’ home court.

The first marquee game on the 2026-27 schedule will pit Kentucky against Kansas in the Champions Classic in Chicago on Nov. 10, giving Williams less than four weeks to make it back in time for that matchup.