Donta Smith
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 saw the Tigers finish with their worst record since 1987. This would be the first time the Tigers took the court without Andrew Gaze or Chris Anstey on the roster during what was clearly a rebuilding phase for the team.
With Anstey and Sam MacKinnon having retired the season prior Westover recruited import guards Eric Devendorf and TJ Campbell for scoring punch as well as (unusually) three centers in Luke Nevill, Cam Tragardh and Matt Burston.
The Tigers started the season with a home loss to Sydney (68–84) and remained winless until over a month later when they claimed their first victory over the Gold Coast Blaze (85-82). Melbourne’s slow start (0-4) saw the diminutive TJ Campbell (11.8 points and 2.8 assists) released as the Tigers looked to replace him with either Donta Smith or Corey Williams who coach Westover had been actively trying to sign during pre-season, before he chose to play in Greece. Ultimately they went with the reigning NBL MVP Williams.
“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” Tigers coach Al Westover said on announcing they had signed Williams.
“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.”
Later in the season, the Tigers struggles spilled over into the media when owner Seamus McPeake stormed into the locker-room and threaten to not pay his players due to their poor performance. Melbourne responded by winning only 6 of their next 14 games, resulting Devendorf (14.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists) being axed in a cost-cutting move, and the same thing happening to coach Al Westover shortly after. Assistant coach Darryl McDonald was appointed interim coach of the Tigers for the remainder of the season.
Amidst the turmoil, starting centre Luke Nevill (12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks) also asked for his release in order to finish the season with BC Triumph Lyubertsy (Russia).
The Tigers slow start resulted in them sitting on the bottom of the ladder for the first seven weeks of the season before they strung together a small run of wins against lower ranked team’s like Sydney, Adelaide and Gold Coast (again). With Corey Williams (17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.1 per game) leading the team in scoring, the Tigers finished in seventh place (10-18). Their 18 losses set a record for the most a Tigers team had suffered in a season since 1987.
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:
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
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 | 804.3 | 398 | 156 | 140 | 35 | 121 | 30 | 2 | 131 | 64 | 153 | 335 | 46% | 6 | 29 | 20.7% | 86 | 122 | 70% | 51% | 47% | 26 |
| 2009-10 | 33 | Townsville | 16-12 (2) | 31 | 887.2 | 571 | 148 | 121 | 41 | 107 | 37 | 4 | 109 | 82 | 212 | 419 | 51% | 2 | 9 | 22.2% | 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 | 21.1% | 149 | 236 | 63% | 56% | 53% | 35 |
| 2007-08 | 31 | Townsville | 17-13 (5) | 27 | 891.1 | 584 | 129 | 126 | 35 | 94 | 45 | 6 | 123 | 81 | 208 | 419 | 50% | 4 | 28 | 14.3% | 164 | 228 | 72% | 55% | 50% | 41 | Totals | 114 | 3719 | 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 | 20.7% | 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 | 22.2% | 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 | 21.1% | 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 | 14.3% | 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
NBA EXPERIENCE
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 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.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Brazil - Minas (2001–2002) | China - Yunnan (2004–2005) | Croata - Cibona (2008) | France - Cholet (2006) | Dominican Republic - San Carlos (2000–2001) | Germany - Nürnberg (2005) | Greece - BC Maroussi (2010) | Lebanon - Byblos (2012), Bejje SC (2012–2013), Hoops Club (2013), Tripoli (2014), Tadamon Zouk (2015-2016) | Puerto Rico - Quebradillas (2012) | Sweden - 08 Stockholm (2003-2004) | Venezuela - Guaiqueríes de Margarita (2006), Carabobo (2009) | USA (USBL) - Brooklyn (2001, 2003) | USA (NBDL) - New Jersey (2005), Westchester (2005), Sioux Falls (2006, 2007), Dakota (1999, 2007)
During his tenure with the Townsville Crocodiles, Williams had off-seasonstints with KK Cibona of Croatia (2008) and Trotamundos de Carabobo of Venezuela (2009).
After Townsvilllle chose not to re-sign Williams in 2010, he signed a deal to play in Greece with BC Maroussi. His stay there was short lived as he left the team after two months when he failed to receive his salary, returning to play in the NBL with the Melbourne Tigers.
Between January 2012 and April 2016, Williams played for multiple teams in Lebanon, including Byblos Club, Bejje SC, Hoops Club, Al Mouttahed Tripoli and Tadamon Zouk. He also had a 12-game stint in 2012 with Puerto Rican team Piratas de Quebradillas.
COLLEGE
A late-bloomer, there were no scholarship offers waiting for Williams when he left high school. There was a offer to play basketball with a junior college in Kansas City called Penn Valley CC. As a freshman in 1995/96, he helped Penn Valley win the NJCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship before being named a JUCO first-team All-American as a sophomore.
In 1997, Williams joined Alabama State. He spent the next two years there, averaging 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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