THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501180129
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
THE MANY GOOD athletes who turn a deaf ear to the coaches and teachers who stress academics - and then listen only when it is too late - might benefit from a conversation with Boo Williams.
Williams has assisted hundreds of youngsters in securing college grants through his Summer Basketball League and his affiliation with the Amateur Athletic Union.
Since he began with a four-team operation in Hampton back in 1982, he has built a program that embraces all of Hampton Roads and has more than 1,500 participants each year.
At this very moment 36 players from his league are on college basketball teams. Those who went through his program include such professionals as Alonzo Mourning of the Charlotte Hornets, J.R. Reid of the San Antonio Spurs and Bryant Stith of the Denver Nuggets.
And what are the very first words Williams has for the incoming young players?
``The most important thing,'' said Williams, ``is academics. The day of seeing dumb players run up and down the court is over.''
Williams, the speaker at Monday's meeting of the Portsmouth Sports Club at the Holiday Inn-Portside, was a standout high school basketball player himself at Phoebus. He earned an athletic scholarship to St. Joseph's, where he graduated in 1981 and has since been inducted into the college's Hall of Fame.
``Somebody asked me if I'm an agent,'' said Williams. ``I am an agent - a State Farm agent.'' He sells insurance.
Williams, who played professional basketball in Europe and Ireland, says he devotes about 40 or 50 hours each week to the AAU and Summer Basketball League. He's on the Cadet Junior All-American Committee, which is set up to help in the development of future Olympic players. He also is on the McDonald All-American Game girls selection committee.
``Our local girls program is getting better and better,'' he said. ``Certainly it is not as good as the boys yet. But we have had three Parade All-American girls.''
Williams is especially pleased that more than 250 youngsters participating in his summer leagues have received scholarships. ``We feel we do have one of the better programs in the country,'' he said.
But Williams emphasizes that basketball simply is a steppingstone for most of the players.
``There probably are about 1,000 professional basketball opportunities available,'' he pointed out. ``Maybe 280 to 300 with NBA teams, maybe 400 or so in Europe.
``But the competition is unbelievable. I can show you players who might be the best in their high schools who would have a hard time playing on some of the playground teams in the country.
``Kids have to prepare for the future. Listen, I've gone into a school where a kid had four gym classes and took only two other courses. This is getting prepared for nothing but basketball.
``One day that basketball will stop bouncing. What then?'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY KNAPP
Boo Williams has assisted youngsters in securing college grants
through his Summer Basketball League and his affiliation with the
Amateur Athletic Union.
by CNB