Harper Williams Explained

Harper Williams
Height Ft:6
Height In:7
Weight Lb:264
Birth Date:25 May 1971
Birth Place:Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
High School:Bassick (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
College:UMass (1989–1993)
Draft Year:1993
Career Start:1993
Career End:2010
Career Number:16
Career Position:Power forward
Years1:1993–1994
Team1:Elmar León
Years2:1994–1995
Team2:Estudiantes
Years3:1995–1996
Team3:TDK Manresa
Years4:1996–1997
Team4:Estudiantes
Years5:1997–1999
Team5:León Caja España
Years6:1999–2000
Team6:Limoges CSP
Years7:2000–2001
Team7:Panionios
Years8:2001–2002
Team8:Fillattice Imola
Years9:2002–2005
Team9:Ricoh Manresa
Years10:2005–2006
Team10:Gran Canaria
Years11:2006–2007
Team11:Breogán
Years12:2007–2009
Team12:Cáceres 2016
Years13:2008–2009
Team13:Lobos Grises UAD
Years14:2009–2010
Team14:Franca
Highlights:

Harper Terry Williams (born May 25, 1971) is an American former basketball player who played professionally for 17 years, including ten in Spain's Liga ACB. He played college basketball for the UMass Minutemen.

College and early life

Williams, a 6'8" power forward from Bridgeport, Connecticut, led Bassick High School to a 29-0 undefeated state championship season as a senior and was named 1989 Connecticut player of the year.[1]

He went to the University of Massachusetts to play for coach John Calipari, where he became one of the key players in the Minutemen's resurgence. Williams led the Minutemen to two straight Atlantic 10 tournament titles as a junior and senior in 1992 and 1993 - their first in thirty years - and was tournament MVP in both events. In 1992, the Minutemen advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.

Williams was named first team All-Atlantic 10 his last two seasons and was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 1992. He finished his career with 1,543 points (12.9 points per game) and 854 rebounds (7.2 per game).[2]

Professional career

Following his UMass career, Williams was not drafted in the 1993 NBA draft. He instead began a long international career in Spain with Elmar León of Liga ACB. Williams would play ten total seasons in ACB. He was a league All-Star in 2003 with Manresa.[1] He ranks in the top 30 all-time in the Liga ACB in points (5,193), rebounds (2,493), and blocked shots (459). He led the league in blocked shots in 2002.[3]

Williams also played in the top leagues in France, Greece and Italy and was named an All-Star in Greece's HEBA A1 and in France's LNB Pro A. He also played in Mexico and Brazil in the latter stages of his career.[1]

Coaching career

On September 9, 2011, Williams was named as an administrative assistant on former UMass teammate Tony Barbee's staff at Auburn.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harper Williams Named Auburn Basketball Administrative Assistant. Auburn Athletics. 2011 . February 4, 2012.
  2. Web site: 2011-12 UMass men's basketbal record book. UMass Athletics. 2011. February 4, 2012. July 24, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120724213516/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/umas/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/records.pdf. dead.
  3. Web site: 2010-11 ACB Media Guide (Spanish). Liga ACB. 2011 . February 4, 2012.