Antonio Williams (basketball) explained

Antonio Williams
Position:Point guard
Number:4
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:185
League:Úrvalsdeild karla
Team:KR
Nationality:American
Birth Date:January 12, 1997
High School:
College:
Draft Year:2020
Career Start:2021
Years1:2021
Team1:BC Tallinna Kalev
Years2:2021
Team2:Ottawa Blackjacks
Years3:2021–2023
Team3:Plymouth City Patriots
Years4:2023–present
Team4:KR
Highlights:
  • Second-team All-MAC (2020)

Antonio "Booman" Williams (born January 12, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for KR of the Úrvalsdeild karla. Prior to his professional career, he played college basketball for Indian Hills Community College and Kent State.

Early life and high school career

Williams grew up in K-Town, Chicago. At the age of 6 or 7, he began playing football, followed by soccer and basketball shortly afterward. In middle school, Williams scored 30 points in his first AAU game. By the time he enrolled in his freshman year at Farragut Career Academy, Williams decided to focus on basketball instead of football. He transferred to Proviso East High School before his sophomore season, playing under Donnie Boyce. Williams missed 20 games during his junior season due to academic ineligibility. As a senior, he averaged 24 points and six rebounds per game, earning Third Team All-State honors.[1] Partially due to his academic issues, Williams received no Division I scholarship offers, so he decided to attend Indian Hills Community College.[2]

College career

As a freshman, Williams averaged 9.3 points and 1.7 steals per game on a team that finished 29-5.[3] During his sophomore season, Williams averaged 14.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and earned All-Region first team honors.[4] He helped lead Indian Hills to a 33-1 record. Williams committed to Kent State due to its relatively close distance to his home in Chicago.

As a junior, he averaged 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.[5] On February 21, 2020, Williams posted a career-high 34 points in a 104-98 double overtime loss to Buffalo.[6] He followed up that performance by scoring a game-high 17 points to lead Kent State past Miami (Ohio) 74-61.[7] As a senior, Williams averaged 14.7 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game.[8] He was named to the Second Team All-MAC as well as the MAC Defensive Team.[9]

Professional career

On August 8, 2020, Williams signed with Vevey Riviera of the Swiss Basketball League.[10] He never played for them because the club had big financial and administrative problems. In 2021 he signed with BC Tallinna Kalev in Estonia. In July 2021, Williams joined the Ottawa Blackjacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.[11] On December 16, 2021, he signed with the Plymouth City Patriots of the British Basketball League.[12]

On January 6, 2023, Williams signed with KR of the Úrvalsdeild karla.[13]

Personal life

Williams is the son of Tamara Willis. His father was shot after entering a convenience store when Williams was 15. He received his nickname, Booman, from his aunt. Williams has a son, Ayden, born in 2015, with former girlfriend Sariah Vance.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Men's Basketball Announces Signing of Antonio Williams . . August 14, 2020 . April 18, 2018.
  2. News: Kreider . Ian . The inside story of Antonio Williams' journey to fatherhood, Kent State . August 14, 2020 . Kent Wired . March 13, 2019.
  3. News: Jackson . Scott . Warriors move forward after fourth straight national tournament trip . August 14, 2020 . . March 29, 2017.
  4. News: Jackson . Scott . IHCC hoops earns all-region selections . August 14, 2020 . . March 9, 2018.
  5. Web site: Towson Concludes Homestand Against Kent State . . August 14, 2020 . November 10, 2019.
  6. News: Late 3-pointer leads Buffalo past Kent St. in 2OT . August 15, 2020 . . . February 21, 2020.
  7. News: Moff . Allen . As Antonio Williams goes, so goes Kent State basketball team . August 14, 2020 . . February 27, 2020.
  8. News: Moff . Allen . Aside from pride, not much on the line when Kent State visit Akron on Friday . August 14, 2020 . . March 5, 2020.
  9. 2019–20 Men's Basketball Postseason Awards Announced . . March 10, 2020 . March 11, 2020.
  10. Web site: Chelidze . Dimitri . Williams starts his pro career at Vevey Riviera . Eurobasket . August 14, 2020 . August 8, 2020. .
  11. Web site: Ottawa Blackjacks Add Three New Players to Roster . Our Sports Central . December 18, 2021 . July 23, 2021.
  12. Web site: Patriots sign American guard Antonio Williams . British Basketball Focus . December 27, 2021 . December 16, 2021.
  13. News: Hjörtur Leó Guðjónsson . KR-ingar fá enn einn erlenda leikmanninn . 6 January 2023 . . 6 January 2023 . Icelandic.