Kelly Williams

Jersey number: 21
Height/Weight: 6'7" 215 lbs
Age: 26
Date of Birth: 07 February 1982
Hometown: Michigan, USA
Position: Small Forward
Years Pro: 3
College: Oakland University
PBA Teams played for in the PBA: Sta. Lucia Realtors

Basketball Career:

Kelly Williams was a 2000 graduate of Detroit's Martin Luther King High School. He earned four varsity letters in basketball under head coach Benny White in the tough Detroit PSL basketball league. He was elected co-captain for the Crusaders in 1999-00. The Crusaders were ranked as high as #1 in the state his senior year and was defeated in the semi-final round at the state championships. MLKHS recorded a 68-16 record in his four years.

Kelly Williams attended Oakland University for four years, with the highlight of his career coming his freshman year when the Grizzlies upset the University of Michigan.

• 2003-2004 Williams had a solid senior season, ranking among the team leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.
  
• 2002-2003 Williams played in every game for a third straight year for OU in 2002-03, finishing third on the squad in rebounding.
  
• 2001-2002 Williams played in every game for the Golden Grizzlies as a sophomore.
  
• 2000-2001 Williams scored 18 points in Oakland's upset of Michigan on Nov. 17, 2000.

In the PBL playing for Magnolia, Williams, together with Arwind Santos, did almost everything on the court scoring, rebounding and defending to get the attention of many PBA coaches and managers. One person who took pains in making sure that they pick Williams is SLR Team manager Buddy Encarnado.

When former Philippine Basketball Association chairman Buddy Encarnado, who loves the game of basketball and plays it with remarkable passion, decided to pick Kelly Williams at no. 1 in the 2006 Annual Draft, he just didn’t get an exciting and explosive player that is certain to give Sta. Lucia Realty a much-needed boost. Encarnado did more than that. He made an unwritten statement recognizing the reality that players like Williams are Filipinos and have an inherent right to be accepted as such in the PBA.

Undoubtedly the most talented player in the 2006 batch, Sta. Lucia found a gem in this Oakland University alum with his innate athleticism and skills. Williams’ addition to the Realtors camp adds youth and quickness to the aging frontline of the team. Williams’ versatility gives coach Boyet Fernandez a lot of options as the 6-7 national team pool member can play big or small.

Williams, who can play the 2-3-4-5 positions, is one of the big reasons why fans continue to support the team. Williams typifies the new-found vigor and athleticism of the SLR franchise.

Statistics:

As a senior in Detroit's Martin Luther King High School, Williams averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks, three steals and two assists per game in the Detroit PSL Basketball League.

In the PBL and playing for Magnolia, The 24-year-old high-leaper averaged team-bests 17.1 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in the Unity Cup, aside from countless highlight-reel slams.

During the early part of the 2006-2007 season, Kelly Williams not only led all rookies in points (16.57 ppg), rebounds (10.86 rpg), and steals (1.43 spg), but also those numbers are team-highs.

In the 2007-2008 season, Williams improved his numbers further and led his team to its first ever Philippine Cup title since entering the league in 1993. The reigning slam dunk champion averaged 18.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks in 53 games which earned him the prestigious 2008 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. He was also chosen as part of the PBA First Mythical Team and the Defensive Team on that year.

Awards:

• Named in the all Detroit PSL Basketball League in 1999 and 2000
• Named in the all Detroit PSL Basketball League District and State in 2000
• PBA 2006 Rookie of the Year
• Member of the PBA 2006 First Mythical Team
• 2007-2008 PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference
• 2008 PBA First Mythical Team
• 2008 PBA Defensive Team
• 2008 PBA MVP