THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 20, 1996 TAG: 9607200002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 41 lines
Marcellus Spencer Williams Jr., better known as Boo, is the founder and head honcho and soul of the Boo Williams Summer Basketball League, which has 130 boys and girls teams throughout Hampton Roads.
Over the past dozen years, Williams, 37, has helped 242 Hampton Roads basketball players obtain college basketball scholarships.
He helped by providing tutors for the players so they'd qualify for college. A former basketball star himself, he helped by teaching basketball skills. He helped by being someone his players - ages 10 to 17 - could turn to for advice or transportation or all manner of things. He helped through his incredible connections with coaches everywhere. His summer tournament in Hampton attracts more than 100 men's and women's college coaches scouting for talent. Williams' calls to any coach in the country, and probably Europe, are quickly returned.
College-sports recruitment can be a dirty business. A super player is priceless to a coach or an agent, and money may change hands under tables as coaches or agents buy access to stars. Williams has that access; yet, by all accounts, he is as clean as a whistle - always helping others without accepting anything for himself. To support his family, he's an insurance agent in his native Hampton.
Incredibly, the No. 1 picks in the National Basketball Association the past two years have been Boo Williams alumni: Joe Smith in 1995 and Allen Iverson this year. Williams and his wife drove Iverson off to college his freshman year.
Williams coached boys teams to AAU national championships in 1988 and 1992, beating the big-city toughs and putting Hampton Roads on the big-time basketball map.
Staff writer Ed Miller told Williams' story in Wednesday's sports section.
Williams formed the youth basketball league that would have helped him when he was growing up. He told friends that a way was needed to get kids off the streets, and basketball was that way.
Three years shy of 40, Williams is a basketball legend. Perhaps the finest thing that can be said about him is that he does it all for the youngsters. by CNB