Glen Williams (basketball)
Glen Williams Jr. (April 25, 1954 – May 10, 2017) was an American professional basketball player.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 25, 1954 Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Died | May 10, 2017 (aged 63) New York City, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Laurinburg Institute (Laurinburg, North Carolina) |
| College | St. John's (1973–1977) |
| NBA draft | 1977 / Round: 2 / Pick: 27th overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Career history | |
| 1978–1979 | Tucson Gunners |
Williams was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and raised in Charlotte Amalie, where he played baseball as a child before a right arm injury led to him playing basketball instead.[1] When he was 15, Williams participated for the Virgin Islands national basketball team at the 1977 Centrobasket and was the youngest member of the team.[1] His high school basketball coach in the Virgin Islands was from North Carolina and arranged for Williams to transfer to Laurinburg Institute in Laurinburg, North Carolina.[1] He averaged 30 points per game during his first season at Laurinburg and averaged 28 points the following season.[1]
While playing for Laurinburg at Nassau Coliseum before a New York Nets game in 1973, Williams was noticed by Nets head coach Lou Carnesecca.[1] Williams joined Carnesca as part of the St. John's Redmen when the latter was hired as the head coach of the team the following season.[1] Williams became a starter for the Redmen during his freshman season and stayed in the starting lineup for his entire collegiate career.[2] During his senior season as team captain, he broke the Redmen record for most points scored in a season with 665.[3] Williams ranks 10th in total points scored at St. John's.[4] Carnesecca called him "one of the best two-way players we ever had here".[2]
Williams was selected in the 1977 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 27th overall pick but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He instead played professionally in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) and the Western Basketball Association (WBA).[3] Williams played for the Tucson Gunners of the WBA during the 1978–79 season.[5][6] He was inducted into the St. John's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.[3]
Williams suffered from cancer for the last seven years of his life and died aged 63.[2]
References
- Anderson, Dave (March 6, 1976). "The 'City Kid' from the Virgin Islands". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- "Former St. John's star Glen Williams dies at 63". USA Today. May 11, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- "St. John's Mourns the Passing of Basketball Legend Glen Williams". St. John's University Athletics. May 10, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- "2019–20 St. John's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). St. John's University Athletics. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Kirkpatrick, Curry (February 12, 1979). "Taking a Gamble on the Future". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Sneddon, Steve (November 10, 1978). "WBA players gunning for recognition". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2020.