Kam Williams Ignites Tulane With Explosive 3-Point Barrage in Freshman Finale — A Star Is Born
In the humid buzz of New Orleans, as the golden hour light bathed the Devlin Fieldhouse, an unassuming freshman named Kam Williams stepped onto the hardwood with fire in his eyes and thunder in his heart. Tulane had stumbled through a rocky season, clawing for relevance in the American Athletic Conference. But on this night—senior night, ironically—it was the youngest on the roster who would leave the deepest imprint.
The Green Wave were facing off against Memphis, a powerhouse program with NBA-sized bodies and the swagger to match. Most expected a routine blowout. What they got instead was a baptism by fire—Kam Williams’ fire.
Williams, a wiry 6’2” guard from Houston, had shown flashes all season: a few double-digit games, a couple of smooth step-backs, a reputation for staying late after practice, soaking in game film like gospel. But tonight, with the season finale meaning everything and nothing, he erupted.
It started quietly—a corner three just two minutes in. Memphis gave him space, betting on nerves. Splash.
Then a pull-up triple in transition. The bench stirred. The fans leaned forward.
Then came the heater.
By the ten-minute mark of the first half, Williams had drilled five threes on five attempts. Memphis adjusted. They threw double teams, hedged hard on screens, even switched to a box-and-one. Nothing worked.
Kam danced around defenders like a jazz musician riffing through improvisation. He had 21 points by halftime. The scoreboard read Tulane 42, Memphis 38, but it might as well have read “Kam Williams 21, Memphis 38.”
“I just felt light,” Williams said postgame. “Like the ball was telling me what to do.”
The second half became a coronation. He hit threes off the dribble, off pin-downs, off broken plays. The crowd, half in disbelief, half in euphoria, rose every time he touched the ball. ESPN cut in mid-broadcast to show live highlights. NBA scouts refreshed their notes.
With under a minute to go, Tulane up five, Memphis pressed. The ball found Williams. He could’ve killed clock. Instead, he rose from 28 feet with two defenders flying at him. Bang. His 11th three. 39 points. Game over.
Fans stormed the court. They chanted his name. Kam stood at center court, arms raised, as if baptized by the noise. His teammates hoisted him on their shoulders like a conquering hero.
Coach Ron Hunter, known for his fire and honesty, said it best: “Tonight, a kid became a killer. Kam didn’t just arrive—he announced himself.”
In a season where hope flickered dimly, Kam Williams lit a torch. The box score etched in digital permanence. The highlight reels looped on every screen. The whispers became roars.
He wasn’t just a freshman anymore.
He was Tulane’s future.
A star was born.
