Chaz Williams Explained

Chaz Williams
Position:Point guard
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Weight Lb:175
League:Úrvalsdeild karla
Team:Njarðvík
Birth Date:April 6, 1991
Nationality:American
High School:Bishop Ford (Brooklyn, New York)
College:
Draft Year:2014
Career Start:2014
Years1:2014
Team1:Eskişehir Basket
Years2:2015
Team2:Maine Red Claws
Years3:2015
Team3:Delaware 87ers
Years4:2016
Team4:Geneva Lions
Years5:2017
Team5:Korihait
Years6:2018
Team6:Þór Þorlákshöfn
Years7:2019
Team7:Wilki Morskie Szczecin
Years8:2019–2020
Team8:Njarðvík
Years9:2020–2021
Team9:Pelister
Years10:2021–2022
Team10:Kozuv
Years11:2022–2023
Team11:Aix Maurienne Savoie Basket
Years12:2023
Team12:Club Ourense Baloncesto
Years13:2023–present
Team13:Njarðvík
Highlights:

Chaz Calvaron Williams (born April 6, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for Njarðvík of the Úrvalsdeild karla. He played college basketball for University of Massachusetts (UMass) and was considered one of the top point guards in the nation for the 2013–14 season.

College career

Williams was a two-time conference player of the year at Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn, New York. He committed to nearby Hofstra University and moved quickly into the starting lineup. He averaged 9.8 points and 4.2 assists per game and was named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Freshman team.[1] Following an offseason which saw head coach Tom Pecora leave Hofstra, Williams transferred to UMass.[2]

After sitting out the 2010–11 season as a transfer, Williams led the Minutemen to a 25 win season in 2011–12. He averaged 16.9 points, 6.2 assists, 2.2 steals and 4.4 rebounds per game and was named first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference. As a junior, he repeated on the All-Atlantic 10 team after averaging 15.5 and 7.3 assists per game.[1] However, UMass failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. Throughout his UMass career, Williams helped the Minutemen defeat some national ranked teams. This included beating VCU, Dayton, and George Washington.

In the offseason, Williams considered declaring for the 2013 NBA draft. After reviewing information gathered by his coach Derek Kellogg indicating he would likely be a second round pick, he decided to return for his final season and try to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time.[2]

At the beginning of his senior season, Williams was named to the watch lists for the Naismith Player of the Year Award, the Bob Cousy Award for best point guard in the nation and was a preseason All-Atlantic 10 pick.[3] On February 13, 2014, he was named one of the 30 finalists for Naismith College Player of the Year.[4] He led UMass to a #6 seed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament and is ranked 23rd all-time in career assists in NCAA history.

Professional career

Following graduation, Williams went undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft. On August 9, 2014, he signed with Olin Edirne of the Turkish Basketball League.[5] He parted ways with Olin on November 14, 2014 after appearing in just five games.[6]

On February 20, 2015, he was acquired by the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.[7] On March 8, he was waived by the Red Claws after appearing in just three games.[8] On March 20 he was acquired by the Delaware 87ers.[9]

On July 2, 2017 he signed with Korihait of the Finnish Korisliiga.[10] He left the club on November 23, 2017. In 11 games, Williams averaged 12.6 points and 3.8 assists per game.[11]

On January 24, 2018, Williams signed with Þór Þorlákshöfn of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild karla.[12] In 8 games he averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game. In February 2019, Williams signed with Wilki Morskie Szczecin of the Polish Basketball League.[13]

On November 6, 2019, Williams returned to Iceland and signed with Njarðvík where he met his old coach from Þór Þorlákshöfn, Einar Árni Jóhannsson.[14] For the first four games, he came of the bench and split his playing time with fellow American Wayne Martin Jr.[15] Due to his performance, Njarðvík allowed Martin to sign with Jämtland Basket in Sweden and moved Williams to the starting lineup.[16] On January 16, 2020, he scored a season high 36 point against Reykjanesbær rivals Keflavík.[17] Williams averaged 20 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. On August 22, he signed with Pelister of the Macedonian First League.[18] Williams averaged 19.4 points, 7.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. On January 6, 2022, he signed with AMSB of the LNB Pro B.[19]

In May 2023, Williams returned to Iceland and signed back with Njarðvík.[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chaz Williams UMass athletic bio. UMass Minutemen. January 20, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203021025/http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/chaz_williams_734467.html. February 3, 2014.
  2. Web site: Benbow . Julian . Chaz Williams has been deciding factor for UMass basketball . . December 20, 2013 . January 20, 2014 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522111936/https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/12/20/chaz-williams-has-been-deciding-factor-for-umass-basketball/ZbK80FZGt97PJGVpnETqYI/story.html . dead .
  3. Web site: Malone . Daniel . UMass PG Chaz Williams named to Naismith Award watch list . . November 24, 2013 . January 20, 2014.
  4. Web site: 2013-14 Men's Naismith Trophy Midseason 30 . Naismith Awards . February 14, 2014 . February 13, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222224557/http://www.naismithawards.com/PressBox/ArticleView/tabid/209/ArticleId/8/2013-14-Mens-Naismith-Trophy-Midseason-30.aspx . February 22, 2014 .
  5. Web site: Edirne lands rookie point guard Chaz Williams. Sportando.com. August 9, 2014. August 9, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140809210257/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/turkey/130894/edirne-lands-rookie-point-guard-chaz-williams.html. August 9, 2014. dead.
  6. Web site: Chaz Williams parts ways with Eskisehir Basket . 2015-03-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402151339/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/turkey/141135/chaz-williams-parts-ways-with-eskisehir-basket.html . 2015-04-02 . dead .
  7. Web site: Frazier Signs 2nd 10-Day With 76ers . 2015-03-06 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103947/http://maine.dleague.nba.com/news/frazier-signs-2nd-10-day/ . dead .
  8. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4935500 Red Claws Add Omar Reed
  9. http://dleague.nba.com/news/transactions/ NBA D-League 2014-15 Transactions
  10. http://www.korihait.fi/uutiset/korihait-kiinnitti-ensimmaiset-jenkkivahvistuksensa/ Korihait kiinnitti ensimmäiset jenkkivahvistuksensa
  11. Web site: Chaz Williams stats. basket.fi. 24 January 2018. Finnish.
  12. News: Þórsarar semja við Chaz Williams. 24 January 2018. Hafnarfréttir. 24 January 2018. Icelandic.
  13. News: King Szczecin will test Chaz Williams, ex Thor Thorl . 25 February 2019 . . 7 February 2019.
  14. News: Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson . Njarðvík bætir við sig Bandaríkjamanni sem þjálfarinn þekkir vel . 6 November 2019 . . 6 November 2019 . Icelandic.
  15. News: Anton Ingi Leifsson . Njarðvík með tvo Bandaríkjamenn: "Eru þeir ekki bara að fresta því óumflýjanlega?" . 26 January 2020 . . 10 November 2019 . Icelandic.
  16. News: Arnar Geir Halldórsson . Martin farinn frá Njarðvík . 26 January 2020 . . 27 December 2019 . Icelandic.
  17. News: Skúli B. Sigurðsson . Margt hefði getað farið betur hjá okkur . . 16 January 2020 . Icelandic.
  18. Web site: Chaz Williams (ex Njardvik) is a newcomer at Pelister Bitola . Eurobasket . October 26, 2020 . August 22, 2020.
  19. Web site: Aix-Maurienne inks Chaz Williams, ex Kozuv . Eurobasket . January 6, 2022 . January 6, 2022.
  20. News: Snýr aftur til Njarðvíkur . 27 May 2023 . . 27 May 2023 . Icelandic.