Kavell Bigby-Williams Explained

Kavell Bigby-Williams
Number:11
Position:Power forward / center
Height M:2.11
Weight Kg:113
Team:Astros de Jalisco
League:CIBACOPA
Birth Date:7 October 1995
Birth Place:London, England
Nationality:British
High School:Harris Academy Beckenham
(Beckenham, England)
College:
Draft Year:2019
Career Start:2019
Years1:2019–2020
Team1:Erie BayHawks
Years2:2020
Team2:Sioux Falls Skyforce
Years3:2020
Team3:Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Years4:2020–2021
Team4:Cantù
Years5:2021
Team5:Antwerp Giants
Years6:2021–2022
Team6:Anwil Włocławek
Years7:2022
Team7:Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Years8:2022
Team8:Indios de San Francisco
Years9:2022–2023
Team9:Boulazac
Years10:2023
Team10:Héroes de Falcón
Years11:2023
Team11:Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers
Years12:2024–present
Team12:Astros de Jalisco
Highlights:
  • CIBACOPA All-Star (2024)
  • NABC Junior College Player of the Year (2016)
  • First-team NJCAA All-American (2016)

Kavell Chevano Bigby-Williams (born 7 October 1995) is a British professional basketball player for the Astros de Jalisco of the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA). He was named NABC NJCAA Player of the Year as a sophomore at Gillette College in 2016, before playing college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and the LSU Tigers.

Early life

Bigby-Williams grew up playing soccer in East London. He was a 6'6 goalkeeper at the age of 15 when he broke his leg. After recovering from his injury, he turned his attention to basketball and quickly mastered the fundamentals. As a senior at Harris Academy Beckenham, he averaged 20.7 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6 blocks per game.[1] He committed to play college basketball at Montana State but failed to qualify academically, so he instead ended up at Gillette College in Wyoming.[2]

College career

As a freshman, Bigby-Williams averaged 10.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.[3] As a sophomore at Gillette, Bigby-Williams averaged 16.8 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per game. He was named NABC NJCAA Player of the Year. Bigby-Williams was the top-ranked junior college prospect and signed with Oregon in April 2016.[4]

As a junior, Bigby-Williams averaged 3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He received more playing time after Chris Boucher was injured in the Pac-12 Tournament.[2] In the NCAA Tournament, he averaged 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game to help Oregon reach the Final Four. Following the season, he opted to transfer to LSU. After posting 14 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and a steal in a 83-69 victory at Ole Miss, followed by 12 points and 11 rebounds in an 89-67 win against South Carolina, Bigby-Williams was named SEC player of the week on 21 January 2019.[5] As a senior, he averaged 7.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.[6]

Professional career

NBA G League

After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Bigby-Williams was signed by the Charlotte Hornets but quickly released, instead joining the New Orleans Pelicans.[7] Bigby-Williams was signed by the Pelicans on 6 August 2019 to an Exhibit 10 contract.[8] After playing in one preseason game, he was waived on 19 October.[9] He joined their affiliate in the NBA G League, the Erie BayHawks. On 10 January 2020, Bigby-Williams missed a game with an undisclosed injury.[10] He posted 18 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks, one assist and one steal in a loss to the Iowa Wolves on 23 January.[11] Bigby-Williams averaged 8.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 25 games.

On 4 February, he was traded to the Sioux Falls Skyforce in exchange for Raphiael Putney.[12] On 27 February, Bigby-Williams was traded to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in exchange for a 2020 2nd round pick and the rights of Isaiah Hartenstein.[13]

Europe

On 14 December 2020, he signed with Pallacanestro Cantù of the Lega Basket Serie A.[14] On 11 March 2021, Bigby-Williams left Cantù[15] and moved to Belgium in the Pro Basketball League, signing with the Antwerp Giants.[16] On 19 August 2021, he signed with Anwil Włocławek of the Polish Basketball League.[17]

Return to the G League

On 1 February 2022, Bigby-Williams was re-acquired by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League through his returning player rights.[18]

Astros de Jalisco

Bigby-Williams joined the Astros de Jalisco of the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA) in Mexico ahead of the 2024 CIBACOPA season, arriving in time to participate in the preseason Copa Salsa Huichol.[19] He earned league All-Star honors.[20]

National team career

Bigby-Williams represented Great Britain in its Under-20 and Under-18 teams, averaging 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game between the two squads. He represented the senior national team at EuroBasket 2022.

Personal life

Born in England, Bigby-Williams is of Jamaican and Dominica descent. He is a cousin of the British-Canadian boxer Lennox Lewis.[21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Higgins . Ron . Tigers look to Bigby-Williams for his NCAA tournament experience . Rivals.com . 10 May 2020 . 19 March 2019.
  2. News: Peter . Josh . Britain's Kavell Bigby-Williams made stunning ascent to Oregon's lineup . 10 May 2020 . . 18 March 2017.
  3. News: Mickles . Sheldon . LSU basketball gets transfer Kavell Bigby-Williams, who will be eligible in 2018-19 season . 10 May 2020 . . 19 August 2017.
  4. News: Fentress . Aaron . Oregon basketball hits jackpot with Bigby-Williams, Final Four expectations increase . 10 May 2020 . . 14 April 2016.
  5. News: Mickles . Sheldon . Coming up big: LSU senior forward Kavell Bigby-Williams is chosen SEC player of the week . 10 May 2020 . . 21 January 2019.
  6. Web site: Askounis . John . British Bigby-Williams signs with Pelicans . EuroHoops . 10 May 2020 . 7 August 2019.
  7. News: Walker . Rod . Two games into NBA Summer League, LSU's Kavell Bigby-Williams providing Pelicans with jolt of energy . 10 May 2020 . . 7 July 2019.
  8. News: Prather . Scott . Pelicans Sign LSU Alum Kavell Bigby-Williams To ExhibiPelicans Sign LSU Alum Kavell Bigby-Williams . 10 May 2020 . . 6 August 2019.
  9. News: Kavell Bigby-Williams: Let go by Pelicans . 10 May 2020 . . 19 October 2019.
  10. News: Kavell Bigby-Williams: Misses Friday's game . 10 May 2020 . . 11 January 2020.
  11. News: Kavell Bigby-Williams: Logs double-double off bench . 10 May 2020 . . 24 January 2020.
  12. News: Kavell Bigby-Williams: Dealt to Sioux Falls . 10 May 2020 . . 4 February 2020.
  13. News: Mad Ants acquire Kavell Bigby-Williams from Sioux Falls . 10 May 2020 . NBA.com . 27 February 2020 . 25 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200625044636/https://fortwayne.gleague.nba.com/news/mad-ants-acquire-kavell-bigby-williams-from-sioux-falls/ . dead .
  14. News: Cantù signs Kavell Bigby-Williams. 14 December 2020. Sportando. En. 14 December 2020.
  15. Web site: COMUNICATO STAMPA: KAVELL BIGBY-WILLIAMS . pallacanestrocantu.com . 11 March 2021 . Italian .
  16. Web site: Nieuwe center voor Telenet Giants Antwerp . antwerpgiants.be . 11 March 2021 . Dutch .
  17. Web site: Anwil announces Kavell Bigby-Williams. 19 August 2021. Sportando. En. 19 August 2021.
  18. Web site: NBA G League Transactions .
  19. News: Frayles son superados por Astros con una pizarra holgada. Alexei. Grave. Debate.com.mx. 22 February 2024. 27 February 2024. es.
  20. News: ¡Todo listo! Estos son los jugadores que participarán en el Juego de Estrellas Cibacopa 2024. Oscar. Arrieta. Línea Directa Portal . 12 April 2024. 14 April 2024. es.
  21. Web site: Kavell Bigby-Williams. 8 July 2019. LSU Tigers.