Kentucky freshman guard Mason Williams is already making a strong impression during summer workouts.
Head coach Mark Pope recently revealed that Williams edged out two of the Wildcats’ most respected shooters—Milan Momcilovic and Trent Noah—to win the team’s week-long pre-practice three-point shooting competition.
The challenge has become a daily staple for Kentucky, with players attempting 100 three-pointers before each practice. The drill features both catch-and-shoot and movement shots, testing not only shooting ability but also consistency over several days.
Heading into the final day, Williams held a slim lead after making 247 of his first 300 attempts, an impressive 82 percent. Momcilovic, widely regarded as one of the nation’s elite shooters after transferring from Iowa State, sat just six makes behind, while Noah trailed by eight.
Pope acknowledged that the pressure was mounting for the freshman as the veterans tried to chase him down.
Williams, however, wasn’t fazed.
When asked about protecting his lead, he jokingly replied, “I’m not Ousmane N’Diaye,” referencing a previous competition in which N’Diaye had lost a late advantage to Momcilovic.
The final day proved to be just as competitive as expected.
Momcilovic and Noah each caught fire, knocking down 86 of their 100 attempts. Williams finished with 81 makes on the day, which proved just enough to secure the overall title by the slimmest of margins.
Final Shooting Competition Results
– Mason Williams: 328-of-400 (82.0%)
– Milan Momcilovic: 327-of-400 (81.75%)
– Trent Noah: 325-of-400 (81.25%)
Despite winning by only one basket, Williams credited his consistency throughout the week.
“I shot 83, 82, 82, 81,” he said after claiming the top spot.
The performance adds to the growing excitement surrounding the freshman point guard, who has earned praise from Pope throughout the offseason.
Earlier this summer, Pope described Williams as a player with a college-ready body and an elite work ethic.
“He is a voracious worker,” Pope said. “He’s shooting the ball at an elite level. He’s a great playmaker, and we’re encouraging him to be more aggressive instead of deferring. He still has all the normal freshman lessons to learn, but I believe he has a chance to become a very good player.”
While summer shooting competitions don’t guarantee regular-season success, defeating two proven shooters like Momcilovic and Noah is an encouraging sign for Williams.
If his practice performances continue to translate into games, Kentucky may have discovered another dangerous perimeter weapon as the Wildcats prepare for the 2026-27 season.
