The bright lights of the Champions Classic don’t wait for anyone to get comfortable. Mason Williams didn’t need the extra time.
Two games into his college career, Kentucky basketball’s 6-foot-3, 210-pound freshman guard from Dallas has done something no one saw coming. He won the SEC’s first Freshman of the Week honor of the 2026-27 season, he announced Monday. He did it by running an offense rather than hunting for shots.
Great opening week from @MaseWill5 👏
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 9, 2026
The numbers are tidy. Williams averaged 9.5 points and 5.0 assists in Kentucky’s wins over Manhattan and James Madison. He shot 57.1 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from 3-point range. His 10 assists lead the Wildcats, and his 5.0 per game rank second among SEC freshmen and are tied for 14th nationally.
He started quietly and effectively. Williams came off the bench in his collegiate debut against Manhattan and logged 19 minutes, scoring seven points and handing out five assists in an 85-47 rout of the Jaspers…