Ronnie Williams (April 29, 1962 – November 7, 2021) was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Florida Gators. Williams played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and United States Basketball League (USBL).
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 29, 1962 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 7, 2021 (aged 59) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St. John's Military Academy (Delafield, Wisconsin) |
| College | Florida (1980–1984) |
| NBA draft | 1984: 2nd round, 47th overall pick |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Playing career | 1984–1988 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Career history | |
| 1984–1985 | Tampa Bay Thrillers |
| 1985–1986 | Pensacola Tornados |
| 1986–1987 | Jacksonville Jets |
| 1987 | Palm Beach Stingrays |
| 1987–1988 | Mississippi Jets |
| 1988 | Palm Beach Stingrays |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Early life
editWilliams attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.[1]
College career
editWilliams was recruited by Florida Gators assistant coach Monte Towe, who noticed Williams at a summer league tournament in Harlem during the late-1970s.[2]
Williams was a four-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection and led the Gators in scoring each season he played.[3] Williams holds the Gators' records in points, field goals made, free throws made and free throws attempted.[3]
Suspension
editWilliams was suspended along with three teammates for the first month of the 1982–83 season due to a telephone fraud case. Williams, Vernon Delancy, Tony Rogers and Rodney Williams of the Florida Gators basketball team, along with Gators football player Lorenzo Hampton and sprinter Roger Dixon, were charged with making more than $1,600 in illegal telephone calls and placing them on the University Athletic Association's bill. The suspended players were required to repay the telephone company and maintain good behavior for one year.[4]
Professional career
editWilliams was selected by the Boston Celtics as the 47th overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the Continental Basketball Association for the Tampa Bay Thrillers, the Pensacola Tornados and the Mississippi Jets.[5] After his first season in the CBA he was back with the Boston Celtics for the 1985–86 preseason, but was cut in early October 1985 by Celtics coach K. C. Jones.[6]
Williams played with the Palm Beach Stingrays of the United States Basketball League (USBL) in 1987[7] and in 1988.[8] He was released after one month with the team on June 22, 1988.[9] Williams retired from playing basketball in 1988.[10]
Personal life
editAfter his playing career, Williams worked at a juvenile detention center in Brooklyn for over 20 years.[10] He had six children.[10]
Death
editWilliams died on November 7, 2021, in New York City after a two-year struggle with brain cancer.[2]
Career statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–81 | Florida | 28 | – | 35.3 | .575 | – | .610 | 9.0 | 1.2 | .5 | 1.0 | 19.4 |
| 1981–82 | Florida | 27 | – | 36.8 | .597 | – | .728 | 8.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | .6 | 21.3 |
| 1982–83 | Florida | 28 | 27 | 35.9 | .580 | – | .723 | 8.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 18.6 |
| 1983–84 | Florida | 27 | 27 | 34.9 | .586 | – | .716 | 8.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .6 | 16.6 |
| Career | 110 | 54 | 35.7 | .585 | – | .696 | 8.7 | 1.4 | .9 | .8 | 19.0 | |
References
edit- ^ Miller, Mark (February 4, 2009). "St. John's Military Academy loaded with young talent by Mark Miller". berecruited. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Harry, Chris (November 8, 2021). "Ronnie Williams (1962-2021)". Florida Gators. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ a b "Florida Gators 2019–20 Media Guide" (PDF). Florida Gators. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Last year's Southeastern Conference basketball scoring leader Ronnie Williams..." UPI. 23 October 1982. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Thrillers update: Rapid City has played its last 10 games at home but remains In last place in the CBA's Western Division". La Crosse Tribune. January 25, 1988. p. 12.
- ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (October 8, 1985). "Mitchell still a Celtic — for now". The Boston Globe. p. 77.
- ^ "USBL Teams". The Palm Beach Post. May 15, 1987. p. 173. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Camillone, Jude (12 May 1988). "Ex-Gators Montgomery, Lawrence Cut By Stingrays". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Basketball". Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. 22 June 1988. p. 26. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "Florida basketball: Gator great Ronnie Williams dies at 59". GatorSports.com. November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.