Antonio Williams (basketball)

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.

Antonio Williams
Williams with Kent State in 2020
No. 4 – KR
PositionPoint guard
LeagueÚrvalsdeild karla
Personal information
Born (1997-01-12) January 12, 1997
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021BC Tallinna Kalev
2021Ottawa Blackjacks
2021–2023Plymouth City Patriots
2023–presentKR
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-MAC (2020)

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.[1] As a senior, he averaged 24 points and six rebounds per game, earning Third Team All-State honors.[2] Partially due to his academic issues, Williams received no Division I scholarship offers, so he decided to attend Indian Hills Community College.[1]

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.[1]

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.[1]

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