Lucas Walker
July 23, 2020
Corey Williams
- Nationality: USA/JAM
- Date of Birth: 8/03/77
- Place of Birth: New York, New York (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 191
- Weight (KG): 99
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Penn Valley CC (1995–1997) Alabama State (1997–1999)
- NBL DEBUT: 11/10/07
- AGE AT DEBUT: 30
- LAST NBL GAME: 2/04/11
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 34
- NBL History: Townsville 2008-10 | Melbourne 2011
- Championships: 0
- None
NICKNAME/S: Homicide
BIO: Born in New York City as Carey Williams (he later changed his name to Corey in middle school after being teased by other kids attended all-boys Catholic school Rice High School in Harlem.
Coming out of the small Division I school, he had no connections to professional basketball, nor did he have direction from any mentors. He decided to try his luck in the streetball scene, as he proved his worth on the playgrounds of New York City. He was so good, he picked up the nickname “Homicide” by the streetball MCs.
Williams, who graduated from Alabama State in 2000, spent a year touring with the Harlem Globetrotters before spending 2001-2007 playing both internationally and in the United States for NBA development League like the USBL, CBA and NBA D-League.
Williams’ family is from Jamaica and as of 2012, he traveled with a Jamaican passport.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Corey Williams made his NBL debut with the Townsville Crocodiles at 30 years of age. He scored 26 points in his first game.
After playing for the Golden State Warriors during the 2007 NBA Summer League, Williams signed with the Townsville Crocodiles on October 3, 2007, replacing the injured Rosell Ellis. Williams impressed during his first year in the league averaging 21.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists as the Crocodiles finished in fifth place (17-13).
2008/09
In 2008/09, Williams averaged 18.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, playing a key role in the Crocodiles rotation, helping the team finish in sixth place (17-13).
2009/10
The 2009/10 season saw Williams average 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists and go on to be named the NBL’s Most Valuable Player. He also led the Crocodiles to a second place finish during the regular season (16-12).
MELBOURNE TIGERS
2010/11
The 2010/11 season marked a significant challenge in Corey “Homicide” Williams’ NBL career, as the reigning league MVP joined the struggling Melbourne Tigers mid-season in an attempt to rescue their faltering campaign. The Tigers had opened the season 0–5 and released import point guard TJ Campbell to make room for Williams, who returned to the NBL after a brief and unsuccessful stint in Greece. Williams had averaged 18.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his final season with Townsville but was controversially let go by the Crocodiles despite winning MVP.
Melbourne’s roster had undergone a significant overhaul following the exits of Julius Hodge, Mark Worthington (to Gold Coast), Luke Kendall (to Gold Coast), Daniel Johnson (to Adelaide), and the retirements of Chris Anstey and Sam MacKinnon. Head coach Al Westover looked to reshape the team by recruiting import guards Eric Devendorf and TJ Campbell to lead the backcourt, while assembling a supersized frontcourt that included Cameron Tragardh (via Wollongong), Matt Burston (via Perth), and both Luke Nevill and Wade Helliwell, who returned from stints overseas. However, the roster lacked cohesion and positional balance, which became evident early in the season as the Tigers quickly fell to the bottom of the ladder.
After missing out on Donta Smith, the Tigers finally secured Williams just before their Round 6 clash against Perth. “Corey is a veteran point guard and it is a real coup for the club to add the reigning league MVP and player of his quality,” said head coach Al Westover. “With five rookies in the team to start the season, the leadership and on-court experience Corey will bring could be the difference in us winning the close games and turning around our season. He is a real driving force and brings energy, excitement and that extra edge to the team we have not had this season.”
Williams made an immediate impact with his trademark intensity and leadership, helping shift the Tigers’ offensive identity and reinvigorating the fanbase. Over 23 games, he averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and led the league with 6.1 assists. His playmaking, aggressive drives, and vocal leadership kept Melbourne competitive despite the ongoing instability within the franchise.
Midway through the season, tensions erupted publicly when Tigers owner Seamus McPeake stormed into the locker room and threatened to withhold player salaries due to poor performances. Melbourne responded by winning six of their next 14 games, but instability persisted. Devendorf (14.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) was released as a cost-cutting measure, and Westover was also sacked. Assistant coach Darryl McDonald was elevated to interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Williams remained the focal point of the offence through the coaching change, providing scoring punch and veteran direction. With Luke Nevill (12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) later released to sign with BC Triumph Lyubertsy in Russia, the Tigers relied more on the interior tandem of Cameron Tragardh (11.9 points and 4.5 rebounds) and Matt Burston (8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds) to anchor the frontcourt.
Despite flashes of competitiveness and late-season wins over Sydney, Adelaide, and Gold Coast, Melbourne’s rebuild failed to deliver meaningful success. The Tigers ended the season in seventh place with a 10–18 record, their worst since 1987 and a new franchise record for most losses in a single campaign.
Williams, despite leading the team in assists and scoring, was not re-signed. The Tigers opted to pursue Australian point guards such as Adam Gibson and Damien Martin, signalling yet another roster reset for a club still trying to find its post-Gaze identity.
Williams would play out the majority of his career in Lebanon before retiring in 2016.
Corey Williams played four seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Townsville Crocodiles and the Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 114 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 34 | Melbourne | 10-18 (7) | 23 | 804.0 | 398 | 156 | 140 | 35 | 121 | 30 | 2 | 131 | 64 | 153 | 335 | 46% | 6 | 29 | 21% | 86 | 122 | 70% | 51% | 47% | 26 |
| 2009-10 | 33 | Townsville | 16-12 (2) | 31 | 887.0 | 571 | 148 | 121 | 41 | 107 | 37 | 4 | 109 | 82 | 212 | 419 | 51% | 2 | 9 | 22% | 145 | 224 | 65% | 54% | 51% | 37 |
| 2008-09 | 32 | Townsville | 17-13 (6) | 33 | 1,136.0 | 623 | 146 | 144 | 49 | 97 | 37 | 5 | 139 | 97 | 235 | 448 | 52% | 4 | 19 | 21% | 149 | 236 | 63% | 56% | 53% | 35 |
| 2007-08 | 31 | Townsville | 17-13 (5) | 27 | 891.0 | 584 | 129 | 126 | 35 | 94 | 45 | 6 | 123 | 81 | 208 | 419 | 50% | 4 | 28 | 14% | 164 | 228 | 72% | 55% | 50% | 41 | Totals | 114 | 3718 | 2176 | 579 | 531 | 160 | 419 | 149 | 17 | 502 | 324 | 808 | 1621 | 49.8% | 16 | 85 | 18.8% | 544 | 810 | 67.2% | 55% | 50% | 41 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 34 | Melbourne | 10-18 (7) | 23 | 35.0 | 17.3 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 6.7 | 14.6 | 46% | 0.3 | 1.3 | 21% | 3.7 | 5.3 | 70% | 51% | 47% | 26 |
| 2009-10 | 33 | Townsville | 16-12 (2) | 31 | 28.6 | 18.4 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 13.5 | 51% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 22% | 4.7 | 7.2 | 65% | 54% | 51% | 37 |
| 2008-09 | 32 | Townsville | 17-13 (6) | 33 | 34.4 | 18.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 7.1 | 13.6 | 52% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 21% | 4.5 | 7.2 | 63% | 56% | 53% | 35 |
| 2007-08 | 31 | Townsville | 17-13 (5) | 27 | 33.0 | 21.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 7.7 | 15.5 | 50% | 0.1 | 1.0 | 14% | 6.1 | 8.4 | 72% | 55% | 50% | 41 | Total | 114 | 32.6 | 19.1 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 7.1 | 14.2 | 49.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18.8% | 0.1 | 0.7 | 67.2% | 55% | 50% | 41 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 41 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Southern Districts 2011
Williams appeared briefly with Souther Districts which finished 10–16 during the 2011 season prior to heading overseas. There, he playing alongside Cortez Groves, Ash Cannan and Greg Vanderjagt.
NBA EXPERIENCE
In 1999, Williams played in the NBA Development League for the Dakota Wizards.
In 2001, Williams played in the USBL for Brooklyn.
In 2003, Williams returned to the USBL and again played for Brooklyn.
In July 2004, Williams participated in the Denver Nuggets Rookie/Free Agent Camp.
After spending his summer in 2005 working the competition on the streets of New York City, Williams was noticed by Toronto Raptors assistant coach Jim Todd. As a result, on October 3, 2005, Williams signed with the Raptors for training camp. Williams averaged 4.0 points and 1.0 assists in four Preseason games for the Raptors before being waived by the team on October 27.
On November 3, 2005, Williams was selected by the Austin Toros in the ninth round of the 2005 NBA Development League Draft. He was waived by Austin on November 17 before appearing in a game for them.
In 2005, Williams also played in the NBA Development League for New Jersey and Westchester.
In January 2006, he joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association. In March 2006, he was named to the CBA All-Defensive Team and All-League Second Team, while finishing the season with a league-high three triple-doubles, also tying the franchise record for triple-doubles in a season with Cedric Hunter.
In July 2006, Williams played for the Indiana Pacers during the NBA Summer League. He signed with the Denver Nuggets on October 2, only to be was waived on October 8.
During the 2006-07 season he averaged 14 points, four rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in the NBA D-League and won a championship with the Dakota Wizards. At the end of the D-League season, Williams also played for the Golden State Warriors at the 2007 NBA Summer League.
In 2007, Williams return to play for Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA Development League before playing the rest of his career overseas.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Dominican Republic - San Carlos (2000–2001) | Brazil - Minas (2001–2002) | Sweden - 08 Stockholm (2003–2004) | China - Yunnan Honghe (2004–2005) | Germany - Sellbytel Baskets Nürnberg (2005) | Venezuela - Guaiqueríes de Margarita (2006), Trotamundos de Carabobo (2009) | France - Cholet Basket (2006) | Croatia - KK Cibona (2008) | Greece - BC Maroussi (2010) | Lebanon - Byblos Club (2012), Bejje SC (2012–2013), Hoops Club (2013), Al Mouttahed Tripoli (2014), Tadamon Zouk (2015–2016) | Puerto Rico - Piratas de Quebradillas (2012) | Iraq - Duhok (2013)
Williams joined San Carlos for the 2000–01 season, playing his first season in the Dominican Republic.
Williams moved to Brazil with Minas for the 2001–02 season.
Williams joined 08 Stockholm for the 2003–04 season in Sweden.
Williams signed with Yunnan Honghe for the 2004–05 Chinese Basketball Association season and averaged 27.0 points per game.
Williams joined Sellbytel Baskets Nürnberg for the 2005 season in Germany and played three Basketball Bundesliga games, averaging 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Williams had a stint with Guaiqueríes de Margarita in Venezuela in 2006 before joining Cholet Basket for the 2006–07 French Pro A season, where he played eight league games and averaged 9.25 points, 2.13 rebounds and 2.13 assists, with a season-high 22 points against BCM Gravelines on October 29, 2006.
During his tenure with the Townsville Crocodiles, Williams had off-season stints with KK Cibona of Croatia (2008) and returned to Trotamundos de Carabobo of Venezuela (2009).
After Townsvilllle chose not to re-sign Williams in 2010, he signed a deal to play in BC Maroussi in Greece, but his stay lasted only two months before he departed after not receiving his salary. He would return to Australia to play for the Melbourne Tigers.
Williams joined Byblos Club in Lebanon in January 2012 and later that year had a 12-game stint with Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico.
Williams remained in Lebanon with Bejje SC in 2012–13.
Williams continued in Lebanon with Hoops Club in 2013 and later played for Al Mouttahed Tripoli in 2014, while club history records also place him with Duhok in Iraq during the 2013 pre-season.
Williams returned to Lebanon with Tadamon Zouk in February 2015 and averaged 23.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.5 steals across 10 games during the 2014–15 season.
Williams rejoined Tadamon Zouk in February 2016 and played six games between February 14 and April 28, averaging 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists..
COLLEGE
A late-bloomer, there were no scholarship offers waiting for Williams when he left high school, and his first college opportunity came via an offer to play junior college basketball in Kansas City at Penn Valley CC (1995–1997).
As a freshman in 1995/96, he helped Penn Valley win the NJCAA Men’s Division II Basketball Championship, with Penn Valley defeating Kishwaukee 93–88 in the national title game, and Williams being named to the NJCAA Division II All-Tournament Team.
He backed that up as a sophomore in 1996/97 by helping Penn Valley return to the NJCAA Men’s Division II championship game, where they finished runners-up after an 83–81 loss to the Community College of Beaver County, and he was then recognised as a JUCO first-team All-American.
In 1997, Williams joined Alabama State (1997–1999) and spent the next two years there, including a 1997/98 season in which he averaged 14.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists, followed by a 1998/99 season where he averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists, while being noted as Alabama State’s top returning scorer from 1997/98 entering the next year and recording 21 points against Skovbakken (Denmark) and 23 points against Vasda USA in pre-season tour games.
Across his two Alabama State seasons, he averaged 12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals in 54 games, while finishing his degree in criminal justice in 2000, fulfilling a promise to his mother.
AWARDS
- 1x time NBL Most Valuable Player (2010)
- 1x All-NBL First Team
- 3x All-NBL Second Team
- 1x NBL Assists Leader
- NBA D-League champion (2007)
-
All-CBA Second Team (2006)
-
CBA All-Defensive Team (2006)
-
CBA assists leader (2006)
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Passed away as a result of bowel cancer on July 12th, 2024
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