Willard F. Somerset is an American former professional basketball

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 5'8" guard from Duquesne University

Duquesne University

Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...

, Somerset played eight games for the Baltimore Bullets

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...

 during the 1965-66 NBA season

1965-66 NBA season

The 1965–66 NBA Season was the 20th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning an unprecedented 8th straight NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the 1966 NBA Finals.- Sixers :...

, averaging 5.6 points per game

Points per game

Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...

. He blossomed in the American Basketball Association

American Basketball Association

The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...

, where he averaged 22.8 points in 135 games with the Houston Mavericks

Houston Mavericks

The Houston Mavericks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association. They played in the upstart league's first two seasons, from 1967 to 1969. Their home arena was the Sam Houston Coliseum...

 and New York Nets

New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 from 1967 to 1969. During the 1968-69 ABA season, when he was named an All-Star

1969 ABA All-Star Game

GAME 2: at Louisville Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky, January 28, 1969MVP: John Beasley, Dallas ChaparralsCoaches:* East: Gene Rhodes, Kentucky Colonels* West: Alex Hannum, Oakland Oaks-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...

, Somerset ranked fifth in the league in points per game, eighth in assists per game, and third in free throw

Free throw

In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...

 percentage.

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