Kelly Williams

Name: Kelly Williams

Jersey Number: 21

Team: Sta. Lucia

Birthdate: 1982-02-07

Birthplace: Michigan, U.S.

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 215 lbs.

Position: Forward

Draft(Year): 1st overall by Sta. Lucia (2006)

College/University: Oakland University

Player Profile:

Is a Filipino–American professional basketball player currently playing with the Sta. Lucia Realtors of the Philippine Basketball Association, and is the reigning Most Valuable Player of the league. He plays in the forward position. He is a prolific scorer and also a dunk artist.

When the Realtors took the first overall draft right in 2006, they did not hesitate to pick Kelly Williams over two-time UAAP MVP Arwind Santos, who later picked by Air21 second overall.

Known to his various scoring tactics, Williams, 25, has given Sta. Lucia Realty the firepower to melt opponent’s defense.

He can do it via dunk, jump shot or in three-point area and penetrate hard the basket.

Williams, who also represented the country in the last FIBA-Asia in Japan , is also a good rebounder and defensive player.

In fact, he averaged 17.3 points and 9.6 rebounds last year to earn the rookie of the year award.

Williams, in his sophomore year, turned out to be a huge improvement not only in his basketball career but also to the Realtors’ campaign.

He finished with 16.1 points and 11.1 rebounds this Smart Philippine Cup to get the BPC award thus handing the Realtors their first ever All-Filipino Finals appearance.

High school 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 1999–2000. He was named all-league in 1999 and 2000 and all-district and all-state in 2000. He averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks, three steals and two assists per game as a senior. 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.

Collegiate career

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.

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

Amateur career

The 25-year-old high-leaper played for Magnolia in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) where he averaged team-bests 17.1 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in the Unity Cup.

Professional career

Kelly Williams’ versatility gives coach Boyet Fernandez a lot of options as the 6-7 national team pool member can play big or small.^{[citation needed]}

The high-flying, slam-dunking Williams, the top pick of the 2006 PBA Draft, was the unanimous choice for the 2007 Rookie of the Year award amassing 2951 points. He was the second Sta. Lucia Player to win ROY after Jun Limpot in 1993.

Williams also made it to the First Mythical Team along with Alaska's Willie Miller, Air21's Gary David, Talk N Text’s Jay Washington and San Miguel’s Dorian Peña.

Honors

• PBA Fiesta Conference Champion: 2008
• PBA All-Star: 2006, 2007, 2008
• PBA Most Valuable Player: 2008
• PBA Rookie of the Year: 2006