Kentucky basketball’s recruitment of five-star 2026 power forward Cam Williams hit a snag this week when his official trip to Lexington was delayed. Williams had been scheduled to be on campus from September 26-28. The family confirmed Williams is working on setting a new date for the visit. The postponement temporarily pauses head coach Mark Pope’s push to secure one of the most highly regarded prospects in the 2026 class.
Father of Mark Pope’s 2026 Target Details Kentucky Trip Setback
Kentucky basketball’s pursuit of five-star prospect Williams briefly stalled after his highly anticipated visit to Lexington was unexpectedly postponed. Travel complications kept the 6-foot-10, 200-pound forward from making it to campus on the scheduled dates.
Charles Williams, Cam’s father, explained the situation in a message to KSR+. “It was due to airline issues,” he said. “We are working on getting the visit rescheduled. He will visit Kentucky!”
Williams, who plays at St. Mary’s in Phoenix, has quickly become one of the most sought-after players in the 2026 class. He has already visited SMU, Texas, and Purdue, and more stops are planned in the near future. According to his family, upcoming visits include Duke, USC, and Arizona.
Kentucky extended an offer to Williams in July, a moment that stood out to the young forward. Reflecting on the program, he told KSR+,
“I like how they put guys in the league. They have a lot of big names who are playing currently, like SGA, KAT, and AD. They have a long list of really good pros. I like how they play as a team. I watched a couple of their games last year. Obviously, they’re one of the top teams. It’s a school I could see myself fitting in at, playing there, and all of that stuff.”
That interest grew after Mark Pope and his staff evaluated Williams during the summer on the adidas 3SSB circuit, where he suited up for Compton Magic. Playing alongside 2027’s top-ranked recruit, Bruce Branch III, Williams left a strong impression on college coaches, eventually securing an offer from Kentucky.
Speaking about his early conversations with Pope, Williams said,
“It was good. Mark [Pope] was trying to get to know my parents. He was telling us how I’d fit into the program and all of that stuff. He was telling me about the history.” The recruiting services highlight just how highly Williams is viewed nationally. The ‘Rivals Industry Ranking’ places him at No. 7 overall in the 2026 class.