:Kenny Williams (basketball, born 1972)
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{{Short description|American basketball player and announcer}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Kenny Williams
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| number =
| position =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb =
| birth_date = 1972
| birth_place =
| nationality = American
| high_school = Lyons Township (La Grange, Illinois)
| college = UIC (1990–1994)
| draft_year = 1994
| draft_round =
| draft_pick =
| draft_team =
| career_start = 1997
| career_end = 2007
| career_number =11
| years1 = 1997
| team1 = Trefl Sopot
| years2 = 1998
| team2 = Porto
| years3 = 1998–1999
| team3 = Trefl Sopot
| years4 = 1999
| team4 = Gravelines
| years5 = 2000
| team5 = Stargard
| years6 = 2000
| team6 = SKK Szczecin
| years7 = 2001–2002
| team7 = Doncel Distributel
| years8 = 2007
| team8 = Cicero Cometas
| highlights =
- Polish League All-Star (1999)
- Summit League Player of the Year (1994)
- 3× First-team All-MCC (1992–1994)
- No. 11 retired by UIC Flames
| bbr =
}}
Kendall Ovial Williams (born March{{cite web|url=https://www.tblstat.net/player/523|title=Kendall Williams: League Career|accessdate=February 27, 2023|website=tblstat.net}} /April{{cite web|url=http://www.plkhistory.ugu.pl/index.php?profil=2583&tab=1|title=PLKhistory|accessdate=February 27, 2023|website=plkhistory.ugu.pl}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/282767384|title='Wiser' ex-Crane star signs with De Paul|author=Jauss, Bill|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=April 12, 1990|id={{ProQuest|282767384}}}} He shared the backcourt with John Hornacek,{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1444419213|title=Lyons' math adds up to sectional title game vs. Bloom|author=Sullivan, Paul|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=March 7, 1990|id={{ProQuest|1444419213}}}} brother of Jeff Hornacek.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2016/05/19/jeff-hornaceks-brother-knows-what-knicks-new-hire-wants/|title=Jeff Hornacek is motivated as hell after Suns firing: brother|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=May 19, 2016|work=New York Post|author=Berman, Marc}} His 1988–89 junior season Lyons team was mediocre (11-12, 4–6) on February 12.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/282577116|title=Leslie scores 51 in Fremd romp|author=Powers, Jim, Bob Skolnik, and Paula Woods|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=February 12, 1989|id={{ProQuest|282577116}}}} His senior season team commenced with a 9–1 start.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/282681789|title=Small wonder Lyons, Proviso E. triumph|author= O'Donnell, Michael and Keith Buralli|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=December 28, 1989|id={{ProQuest|282681789}}}} He was a 1990 Chicagoland All-area selection by the Chicago Tribune,{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1444427166|title=Chicago Tribune All-State Team|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=March 23, 1990|page=A15|work=Chicago Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1444427166}}}} who received one third-place vote in the Illinois Mr. Basketball voting.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1444354609|title=Lipnisky now 2nd to 1 in Mr. Basketball voting|author=Sullivan, Paul|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=March 30, 1990|page=A15|id={{ProQuest|1444354609}}}} He committed to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in March 1990 after leading Lyons to the West Suburban Silver conference championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/282752709|title=Briefs|author=staff|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=March 28, 1990|id={{ProQuest|282752709}}}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-01-23-9401230155-story.html|title=Williams Sets UIC Record|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=January 23, 1994|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Tierney, Tim and Tribune Staff Writer}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://thesummitleague.org/documents/2022/8/11/2021_22_MBB_Record_Book.pdf|title=2021–22 Summit League Men's Basketball Record Book|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=|publisher=Summit League}} Williams was the first UIC Flame to record 2000 career points (2,025) and is the All-time Flames leader in steals with 237. During his junior season, he was second in the MCC in scoring to Bill Edwards (25.2–21.7).{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/mid-continent/men/1993-leaders.html|title=1992-93 Men's Mid-Continent Conference Leaders|accessdate=February 22, 2023|publisher=Sports Reference}} As a senior he led the MCC in assists (4.6) and steals (2.5), while trailing only teammate Sherrell Ford in scoring (24.3–21.5).{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/mid-continent/men/1994-leaders.html|title=1993-94 Men's Mid-Continent Conference Leaders|accessdate=February 22, 2023|publisher=Sports Reference}} Williams represented UIC and the Summit League at the 1994 NCAA Slam Dunk competition.{{cite journal|url=https://www.collegeslam.com/1994_Players|title=1994|accessdate=February 22, 2023|website=collegeslam.com}} 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).
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/291080508|title=National Honors For Local Stars|author=Sakamoto, Bob and Mike Hutton|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=December 29, 1995|id={{ProQuest|291080508}}}} He became the third Flame (Ford and Mark Miller) to have his number retired on February 19, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://uicflames.com/news/2016/2/2/uic_to_retire_kenny_williams_no_11_on_february_19.aspx|title=UIC to Retire Kenny Williams' No. 11 on February 19|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=February 2, 2016|publisher=UIC Flames}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/283875426|title=Leslie Could Double Rockers' Local Contingent|author=Armour, Terry|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=November 22, 1994|id={{ProQuest|283875426}}}}
In 1997, Williams initially signed in Spain{{cite news|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&t=pubname%3ACSTB%21Chicago%2BSun-Times%2B%2528IL%2529&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Kenny%20Williams%22%20Lyons%20Township%20basketball&docref=news/0EB4233B388E92F1|title=St. Joseph looks tough in Slam 'n Jam Shootout|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=September 21, 1997|quote=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.}} but later played two games with Trefl Sopot in Poland. He finished the 1997–98 season in Portugal with Porto.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.usbasket.com/player/Kenny-Williams/28567|title=Kenny Williams|work=usbasket.com|access-date=February 28, 2023|url-access=subscription}} In December 1998, Williams re-joined Trefl Sopot{{cite web|url=http://sport.trefl.com/koszykowka/klub/snajper-williams/|title=Sniper Williams|work=sport.trefl.com|access-date=February 28, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925160340/http://sport.trefl.com/koszykowka/klub/snajper-williams/|archive-date=September 25, 2013|language=Polish}} and averaged 24.2 points in 22 games. In January 1999, he had a game with 54 points and 14 3-pointers, which set a Polish Basketball League record.{{cite web|url=http://polskikosz.pl/news/20018/rekordy_punktowe_polskiej_ligi_.html|title=Rekordy punktowe polskiej ligi|work=polskikosz.pl|date=August 23, 2009|access-date=February 28, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817095625/http://polskikosz.pl/news/20018/rekordy_punktowe_polskiej_ligi_.html|archive-date=August 17, 2014|language=Polish}} In March 1999, he played in the Polish League All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=http://plk.pl/pl/aktualnosci/n/11472/mecz-gwiazd-rok-po-roku.html|title=MECZ GWIAZD ROK PO ROKU|work=plk.pl|date=December 13, 2012|access-date=February 28, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610130903/http://plk.pl/pl/aktualnosci/n/11472/mecz-gwiazd-rok-po-roku.html|archive-date=June 10, 2015|language=Polish}}
Williams started the 1999–2000 season in France with Gravelines, playing in seven games. He returned to Poland in January 2000 and played one game for Stargard. Williams started the 2000–01 season in Poland with SKK Szczecin but left after six games. In April 2001, he joined Spanish team Doncel Distributel La Serena. He continued with Doncel Distributel in 2001–02.
In 2006, Williams was hired to coach in the American Basketball Association for the Chicago Rockstars.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/420514637|title=They're ready to rock; Chicago's entry into ABA makes its debut Friday|author=Beardmore, Matt|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=November 8, 2006|id={{ProQuest|420514637}}}}
In 2007, Williams was an inaugural member of the Cicero Cometas in the ABA,{{cite web|last=Noel|first=Josh|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-09-13-0709121021-story.html|title=Pro basketball team to settle in Cicero|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 13, 2007|access-date=February 26, 2023}} a team that played three games before withdrawing from the league.{{cite web|last=Gross|first=Ed|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/hindsight-19-17---a-look-at-the-2008-aba-season-that-was--and-wasnt/n-3620619|title=Hindsight 19/17 A Look at the 2008 ABA Season That Was... And Wasn't|work=oursportscentral.com|date=April 10, 2008|access-date=February 26, 2023}}
Post-playing career
In 2007, Williams became the Flames' radio analyst for the team's radio broadcasts.{{cite web|url=https://uicflames.com/news/2010/3/26/Listen_To_Kenny_Williams_On_ESPN_Radio_1000_This_Saturday|title=Listen To Kenny Williams On ESPN Radio 1000 This Saturday|accessdate=February 22, 2023|date=March 22, 2010|publisher=UIC Flames}}
See also
Notes
{{reflist|35em}}
External links
- [http://www.plkhistory.ugu.pl/index.php?profil=2583&tab=1 Profile] at plkhistory.ugu.pl
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150408144143/http://polskikosz.pl/zawodnik/752/williams_kendall/1/mecz_po_meczu.html Profile] at polskikosz.pl
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kenny-williams-4.html College stats] at Sports Reference
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Category:American Basketball Association (2000–present) coaches
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Illinois
Category:Sportspeople from La Grange, Illinois
Category:UIC Flames men's basketball players