New Kentucky assistant coach Mo Williams made the media rounds this week, appearing on FanDuel’s Run It Back for a wide-ranging conversation about his move to Lexington and how Mark Pope’s roster is shaping up for the 2026–27 season. Williams joined Chandler Parsons, Michelle Beadle, and Lou Williams to discuss expectations, roster construction, and his transition back into a high-profile college role.
When Parsons asked whether Kentucky is already loaded for the upcoming season, Williams answered without hesitation. He said the Wildcats are in a strong position, while noting that there are still a couple of roster spots to fill.
That evaluation matches the current state of the roster. Pope has rebuilt the backcourt around Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins, two guards Williams has consistently praised. He’s described them as similar players with different strengths — Diallo bringing physicality and downhill pressure, while Wilkins offers length, agility, and perimeter versatility. Both are expected to play major minutes and shoulder significant responsibility.
The frontcourt remains more unsettled. Malachi Moreno’s pending NBA Draft decision looms over the offseason, and Pope continues to work the transfer portal and international markets. Williams’ comment about having more spots to fill signals that the staff is far from finished adding pieces.
Williams also addressed the question that has followed him since his hiring: why leave a head coaching position to take an assistant role? After spending six years running his own program at Jackson State, he explained that while being a head coach allowed him to fully control a program and recruit, his ultimate motivation was competing for championships.
He said the opportunity to be in a position to win a national title — with the resources Kentucky provides — was the driving force behind his decision to step into an assistant role and help build something special.
A former NBA All-Star who spent eleven seasons in the league and won a championship with Cleveland in 2016, Williams has made it clear that recruiting is what excites him most about the job. He said getting into homes, building relationships, and attracting top-level talent is where he feels he’s at his best.
With key pieces already in place and a staff that now includes NBA championship experience, Kentucky’s offseason continues to come together.