Kentucky’s annual Pro Day in Rupp Arena went down tonight, just ten days before their first exhibition, and let me tell you, Mason Williams is already looking like the real deal. This freshman has been turning heads all offseason, and Pro Day just confirmed it. His name kept popping up in all the right places, from winning drills to the whispers of inside info, and he absolutely lived up to the hype tonight.
Injury Updates and The Three-Point Barrage Is Coming
First things first, on the injury front, it wasn’t all good news. Senior guard Jerone Morton was sidelined, sporting a brace on his left knee, which we knew about from Media Day. He’s still a few weeks out from reevaluation, so we’ll be waiting on that one. Junior Kam Williams (foot) was back on the court, though, participating in shooting drills and knocking down threes like his old self. It was awesome to see him moving, but he didn’t take part in scrimmages, so he’s not quite 100%. Trent Noah, unfortunately, was a complete scratch tonight with a hamstring issue, not doing anything at all. But despite the bumps and bruises, one thing is clear: this team is going to let it fly from deep. We saw a ton of threes going down from expected names like Milan Momcilovic, Alex Wilkins, and Kam Williams, but even guys like Malachi Moreno and Zoom Diallo were splashing from long range. Get ready for a ton of bombs from this squad.
Physicality Rules the Backcourt, Length Dominates Up Front
If you’re looking for toughness, look no further than the backcourt. Zoom Diallo and Mason Williams absolutely bring the physicality. They’re always on balance, strong frames, whether they’re setting a screen or driving off one. They just ooze strength. Coach Pope has been saying “length is our strength,” and you could see it. The frontcourt, though, isn’t exactly overflowing with pure physicality outside of Malachi Moreno and Franck Kepnang. However, that doesn’t mean they’re soft. Justin McBride made his presence felt on the offensive glass, pulling down some grown-man rebounds and putbacks. And even Momcilovic, who people thought might struggle defensively, was disrupting passing lanes at times. Overall, that length up front is going to be a huge problem for opponents all season long.
Diallo: The Junkyard Dog. Williams: The Future is Now.
Zoom Diallo is going to be an absolute menace for opposing guards. He brings endless energy, a real junkyard dog mentality that will give defenses headaches before, during, and after games. The only time he even looked close to being beaten in a one-on-one tonight was when Moreno was hitting contested threes right in his face, and even those weren’t easy buckets. But the biggest takeaway of the night has to be Mason Williams. This kid has been the talk of the offseason, and Pro Day cemented it. Beyond his clear physicality, his basketball IQ is through the roof, which shouldn’t surprise anyone given his dad played in the NBA with LeBron James. Williams has such a great touch on his passes, dishing them out in perfect spots, and he can score from anywhere on the floor, especially from three-point range. He’s the real deal, and he’s going to be a massive factor this season.
Get ready, folks. The first exhibition game is only ten days away, and this team, with Mason Williams leading the charge, is shaping up to be something special. I can’t wait to see them hit the court for real!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply