Kenny Williams
Personal information
Born1972
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Career information
High schoolLyons Township (La Grange, Illinois)
CollegeUIC (1990–1994)
NBA draft1994: undrafted
Playing career1997–2007
Number11
Career history
1997Trefl Sopot
1998Porto
1998–1999Trefl Sopot
1999Gravelines
2000Stargard
2000SKK Szczecin
2001–2002Doncel Distributel
2007Cicero Cometas
Career highlights and awards

Kendall Ovial Williams (born March[1] /April[2] 24, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player and announcer. He played for UIC Flames men's basketball from 1990 to 1994 in the Mid-Continent Conference (now Summit League), earning MCC Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 1994. He played high school basketball at Lyons Township High School. After college, he played in several international leagues, highlighted by a 1999 Polish Basketball League All-Star game appearance.

High school

At Lyons High School, Kenny Williams played point guard.[3] He shared the backcourt with John Hornacek,[4] brother of Jeff Hornacek.[5] His 1988–89 junior season Lyons team was mediocre (11-12, 4–6) on February 12.[6] His senior season team commenced with a 9–1 start.[7] He was a 1990 Chicagoland All-area selection by the Chicago Tribune,[8] who received one third-place vote in the Illinois Mr. Basketball voting.[9] He committed to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in March 1990 after leading Lyons to the West Suburban Silver conference championship.[10]

College

On January 22, 1994, Williams became the all-time leading scorer at UIC, surpassing Chuck Lambert totals from his 1971–75 tenure with the team.[11] He was the 1994 Summit League Men's Basketball Player of the Year as well as both a three-time All-Mid-Continent Conference (MCC, now Summit League) First Team selection and a three-time MCC All-Tournament selection (both 1992–1994). For each of his All-conference and All-conference tournament seasons, the Flames finished as runner up in the conference tournament and did not play in any postseason tournaments.[12] Williams was the first UIC Flame to record 2000 career points (2,025) and is the All-time Flames leader in steals with 237.[13] During his junior season, he was second in the MCC in scoring to Bill Edwards (25.2–21.7).[14] As a senior he led the MCC in assists (4.6) and steals (2.5),[12] while trailing only teammate Sherrell Ford in scoring (24.3–21.5).[15] Williams represented UIC and the Summit League at the 1994 NCAA Slam Dunk competition.[16] He was named MCC player of the week once as a sophomore (1/14/92) three times as a junior (1/26/93, 2/16/93, 2/23/93) and twice as a senior (11/28/93 and 2/20/94).[15]

He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in April 1996 along with Kenny Battle, Rickey Green, and Sonny Parker to name a few.[17] He became the third Flame (Ford and Mark Miller) to have his number retired on February 19, 2016.[13]

Professional career

After graduation, Williams tried out for the Chicago Rockers of the Continental Basketball Association, but a wrist injury hampered his 1994 training camp and he was released.[18]

In 1997, Williams initially signed in Spain[19] but later played two games with Trefl Sopot in Poland.[2] He finished the 1997–98 season in Portugal with Porto.[20] In December 1998, Williams re-joined Trefl Sopot[21] and averaged 24.2 points in 22 games.[2] In January 1999, he had a game with 54 points and 14 3-pointers, which set a Polish Basketball League record.[21][22] In March 1999, he played in the Polish League All-Star Game.[23]

Williams started the 1999–2000 season in France with Gravelines, playing in seven games.[20] He returned to Poland in January 2000[20] and played one game for Stargard.[2] Williams started the 2000–01 season in Poland with SKK Szczecin but left after six games.[2][20] In April 2001, he joined Spanish team Doncel Distributel La Serena. He continued with Doncel Distributel in 2001–02.[20]

In 2006, Williams was hired to coach in the American Basketball Association for the Chicago Rockstars.[24]

In 2007, Williams was an inaugural member of the Cicero Cometas in the ABA,[25] a team that played three games before withdrawing from the league.[26]

Post-playing career

In 2007, Williams became the Flames' radio analyst for the team's radio broadcasts.[27]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Kendall Williams: League Career". tblstat.net. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "PLKhistory". plkhistory.ugu.pl. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  3. ↑ Jauss, Bill (April 12, 1990). "'Wiser' ex-Crane star signs with De Paul". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 282767384. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ Sullivan, Paul (March 7, 1990). "Lyons' math adds up to sectional title game vs. Bloom". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 1444419213. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  5. ↑ Berman, Marc (May 19, 2016). "Jeff Hornacek is motivated as hell after Suns firing: brother". New York Post. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ Powers, Jim, Bob Skolnik, and Paula Woods (February 12, 1989). "Leslie scores 51 in Fremd romp". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 282577116. Retrieved February 22, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ O'Donnell, Michael and Keith Buralli (December 28, 1989). "Small wonder Lyons, Proviso E. triumph". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 282681789. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Chicago Tribune All-State Team". Chicago Tribune. March 23, 1990. p. A15. ProQuest 1444427166. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ Sullivan, Paul (March 30, 1990). "Lipnisky now 2nd to 1 in Mr. Basketball voting". Chicago Tribune. p. A15. ProQuest 1444354609. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ staff (March 28, 1990). "Briefs". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 282752709. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ Tierney, Tim and Tribune Staff Writer (January 23, 1994). "Williams Sets UIC Record". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "2021–22 Summit League Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Summit League. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "UIC to Retire Kenny Williams' No. 11 on February 19". UIC Flames. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ "1992-93 Men's Mid-Continent Conference Leaders". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  15. 1 2 "1993-94 Men's Mid-Continent Conference Leaders". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  16. ↑ "1994". collegeslam.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ Sakamoto, Bob and Mike Hutton (December 29, 1995). "National Honors For Local Stars". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 291080508. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  18. ↑ Armour, Terry (November 22, 1994). "Leslie Could Double Rockers' Local Contingent". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 283875426. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  19. ↑ "St. Joseph looks tough in Slam 'n Jam Shootout". Chicago Sun-Times. September 21, 1997. Retrieved February 22, 2023. Former Lyons Township and Illinois-Chicago basketball star Kenny Williams is playing with a professional team in Spain. Williams, who graduated two years ago, joined the Malog team in mid-August and will play through May. He is represented by Thomas Penn of Peoria.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kenny Williams". usbasket.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Sniper Williams". sport.trefl.com (in Polish). Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Rekordy punktowe polskiej ligi". polskikosz.pl (in Polish). August 23, 2009. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  23. ↑ "MECZ GWIAZD ROK PO ROKU". plk.pl (in Polish). December 13, 2012. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  24. ↑ Beardmore, Matt (November 8, 2006). "They're ready to rock ; Chicago's entry into ABA makes its debut Friday". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 420514637. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  25. ↑ Noel, Josh (September 13, 2007). "Pro basketball team to settle in Cicero". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  26. ↑ Gross, Ed (April 10, 2008). "Hindsight 19/17 A Look at the 2008 ABA Season That Was... And Wasn't". oursportscentral.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Listen To Kenny Williams On ESPN Radio 1000 This Saturday". UIC Flames. March 22, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
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