Frank Williams (basketball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 25, 1980 Peoria, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Manual (Peoria, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 212 lb (96 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Illinois (1999–2002) |
| NBA Draft | 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 25th overall |
| Selected by the Denver Nuggets | |
| Pro career | 2002–2010 |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2004 | New York Knicks |
| 2004–2005 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2006–2007 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 2007–2008 | Scafati Basket |
| 2008–2009 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 2009 | Unión de Santa Fe |
| 2009–2010 | Ciclista Olímpico |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Frank Lowell Williams (born February 25, 1980) is a former American professional basketball player. He played as a point guard. The Denver Nuggets picked him in the 2002 NBA draft. He played college basketball at the University of Illinois.
In 2004, his college team, the University of Illinois, named him to their All-Century Team. This means he was one of the best players in their history.
Contents
Early Life and High School Success
Frank Williams went to Manual High School in Peoria, Illinois. His high school basketball team was one of the best in the country. Williams helped his team reach the state championship tournament finals twice. This was in 1996 as a sophomore and again in 1997 as a junior. In both tournaments, he was named to the All-Tournament team. As a senior in 1998, Williams was named Illinois Mr. Basketball. This award goes to the best high school player in Illinois.
College Career at Illinois
After high school, Williams attended the University of Illinois. He played three seasons for the Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team. His coach was Bill Self. Williams helped lead the team to several NCAA Tournament appearances.
After the 2000–2001 season, Williams was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. He also received the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball award. At Illinois, Williams played again with his high school teammates Marcus Griffin and Sergio McClain. They were known as "The Peoria 3." In 2001, their team earned a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. They made it to the Elite 8. Williams' high school coach, Wayne McClain, also became an assistant coach for the Illini. In 2004, Williams was chosen for the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team." In 2007, he was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament." This recognized his great performance in the tournament.
Professional Basketball Journey
The New York Knicks got Williams in a trade during the 2002 draft. He did not play much in his first season. He got more playing time in the first half of the 2003–04 season. Later, the Knicks traded for another point guard, Stephon Marbury. This meant Williams played less.
The Chicago Bulls then acquired Williams in a trade. Fans in Chicago liked him because of his time with the Illini. They hoped he would compete for the starting point guard job. However, he was not in good shape for training camp. He spent most of the 2004–05 season on injured reserve. The Bulls decided not to re-sign him for the next season. Williams signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in October 2005. But he was released just four days later.
Williams' last NBA game was on March 9, 2005. It was a win against the Portland Trail Blazers. He played 6 minutes in that game. In total, Williams played 86 NBA games. He averaged 2.9 points and 1.9 assists per game. After his time in the NBA, he continued to play professional basketball in other leagues.
Family Life
Frank Williams' son, Da’Monte Williams, also played basketball. He was a guard for the University of Illinois basketball team.
