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Ronnie Williams (basketball) facts for kids

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Ronnie Williams
Personal information
Born (1962-04-29)April 29, 1962
Queens, New York, U.S.
Died November 7, 2021(2021-11-07) (aged 59)
New York City, New York, U.S.
High school St. John's Military Academy
(Delafield, Wisconsin)
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
College Florida (1980–1984)
NBA Draft 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Pro career 1984–1988
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
  • AP Honorable Mention All-American (1982, 1983)
  • 4× All-SEC (1981–1984)

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).

Early life

Williams attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.

College career

Williams was recruited by Florida Gators assistant coach Monte Towe, who noticed Williams at a summer league tournament in Harlem during the late-1970s.

Williams was a four-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection and led the Gators in scoring each season he played. Williams holds the Gators' records in points, field goals made, free throws made and free throws attempted.

Suspension

Williams 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.

Professional career

Williams 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. 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.

Williams played with the Palm Beach Stingrays of the United States Basketball League (USBL) in 1987 and in 1988. He was released after one month with the team on June 22, 1988. Williams retired from playing basketball in 1988.

Personal life

After his playing career, Williams worked at a juvenile detention center in Brooklyn for over 20 years. He had six children.

Death

Williams died on November 7, 2021, in New York City after a two-year struggle with brain cancer.

Career statistics

Legend
  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

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
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