Tulane has only had 14 prospects reach the NBA.
Melvin Frazier, whom the Orlando Magic selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, was the last to make it. Leaving the Green Wave after his junior season, he was the 2018 AAC Most Improved Player. However, the New Orleans native was unable to latch on at the next level, and now plays abroad for Al-Ahly Ly.
Tulane Freshman Kam Williams To Test NBA Draft Waters
This summer, Tulane freshman Kam Williams could join Frazier as the only Green Wave players to be drafted in the last 20 years, as ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reports that he’ll enter the CBB transfer portal while testing NBA Draft waters.
NEWS: Tulane’s Kam Williams will enter the NCAA transfer portal, his agent Chris Gaston of Octagon tells ESPN. The 6’8, 19-year-old wing was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team after averaging 9.3 points per game, shooting 41% for 3. Will also test the NBA Draft waters. pic.twitter.com/MK4Aqnmygk
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 24, 2025
Yet, Williams projects to have a career that’s closer to alum John “Hot Rod” Williams. The 45th overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft, Hot Rod enjoyed a successful 13-year NBA career. With that in mind, as he’s one of the more prominent figures in Cleveland Cavaliers lore, they could be among the teams who find themselves fascinated by the 19-year-old.
First Round Prospect?
At 6-foot-8 and 190 pounds, Williams is a lean and athletic wing whose best skill is his 3-point shooting.
Big fan of Tulane’s Kam Williams. The 6’8” freshman is making an impact as a two-way wing for the Green Wave—knocking down 39.6% of his threes on ~11 3PA/100, stuffing the stat sheet defensively with a STL% of 4.3 and BLK% of 3.8, and making strong decisions as a ball mover,… pic.twitter.com/DK3q1hcGBq
— NBA Draft Dude 🤙 (@CoreyTulaba) December 4, 2024
Though he made 41.2 percent of his 3s on 4.6 attempts per game, it’s not just the sparkling efficiency. His touch, range, and relocation give him the look of a high-level outside threat. His ability to knock down movement 3s and score off the dribble,
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 🏀
Kam Williams x @GreenWaveMBB #AmericanWay x #AmericanHoops pic.twitter.com/4h4j6I1bU8
— The American (@American_Conf) March 3, 2025
He’s not confined to launching from the perimeter though. He can get into the teeth of the defense off the dribble or off of cuts. He’s not going to be mistaken for LeBron James coming down the lane. Nonetheless, he makes proper use of his physical tools when he sets his sights on the rim.
𝐊𝟑 – 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤
Shoutout @KamWilliams_3 for earning his third nod as the @American_Conf Freshman of the Week!#RollWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/GhiZzifKFB
— Tulane Men’s Basketball (@GreenWaveMBB) February 24, 2025
Defensively, Williams stands out largely because of his length and ‘stick to it’ mentality, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
However, he’s also demonstrated solid core strength, which should aid him at the next level. Though the NBA isn’t considered to be particularly physical, he’ll still be matchup up against grown men. Furthermore, he could be asked to add muscle in order to play more forward at the next level. With that being said, his potential to be effective at three positions should only make him a more appealing addition.
As a four-star high school recruit, he didn’t start his freshman season with the pomp and circumstance of other prospects in this draft cycle. Nevertheless, he’s outplayed guys like UConn forward Liam McNeeley and Illinois wing Will Riley. If both McNeeley and Riley are projected to be first-round picks, what does that make Williams?
© Chris Jones-Imagn Images
