Al Williams (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Alfred "Al" Williams was an American basketball
player.
A 6'6" forward from Peoria, Illinois
, Williams played at Drake University
from 1967 to 1970. He was a member of Drake's 1969 NCAA Final Four
team, who lost to UCLA in the national semifinals. Williams graduated as his school's all-time best rebounder
with a career average of 8.6 rebounds per game.
From 1970 to 1971, Williams played professional basketball with the Kentucky Colonels
of the American Basketball Association. He averaged 3.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11 games.
Williams died of liver cancer
at a hospital in Georgia
in 2007.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
A 6'6" forward from Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
, Williams played at Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
from 1967 to 1970. He was a member of Drake's 1969 NCAA Final Four
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
team, who lost to UCLA in the national semifinals. Williams graduated as his school's all-time best rebounder
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
with a career average of 8.6 rebounds per game.
From 1970 to 1971, Williams played professional basketball with the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
of the American Basketball Association. He averaged 3.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11 games.
Williams died of liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
at a hospital in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 2007.