Fly Williams
James "Fly" Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 18, 1953 Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Years active | 1974–1975, later years in CBA and other leagues |
| Known for | American Basketball Association player for Spirits of St. Louis; notable streetball player; scored 100 points in a 1978 IS8 League game |
James "Fly" Williams (born February 18, 1953) is a retired American professional basketball athlete who competed in the American Basketball Association (ABA) with the Spirits of St. Louis and various squads within the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). A well-known figure in New York's street basketball scene, he gained recognition for scoring 100 points in a 1978 IS8 League contest.
Early life
Williams was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York and attended Madison High School. Originally focused on baseball as a pitcher, he transitioned to basketball due to his height advantage.
He became a popular streetball player, frequently competing alongside notable talents such as World B. Free and Earl "the Goat" Manigault. By his freshman year, standing tall, Williams had already demonstrated his skill and ability to captivate audiences. Because of low attendance at Madison, he transferred to Glen Springs Academy, a prep school located in Watkins Glen, New York. His early life and career are detailed in the book Heaven Is a Playground. According to sportswriter Terry Pluto, Williams earned the nickname "Fly" in homage to singer Curtis "Super Fly" Mayfield. He was also recognized for his performances at legendary courts like Rucker Park and The Hole in Brownsville.
College
Following high school, assistant coach Leonard Hamilton recruited Williams to attend Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. Arriving in 1972, his name was celebrated with skywriting. During his freshman season in 1973, Williams averaged 29.4 points per game, ranking fifth nationwide. He scored 26 points in Austin Peay's opening NCAA tournament victory over Jacksonville University, matching that output in an overtime loss against the University of Kentucky.
Williams twice notched 51-point games as a freshman. In his sophomore season, he maintained a 27.5 points per game average, placing third nationally. The Governors returned to the NCAA tournament but were defeated by Notre Dame in the first round. Across two seasons, Williams amassed 1,541 points with an average of 28.5 points before leaving college early due to personal difficulties to pursue professional opportunities. His influence helped prompt Austin Peay to inaugurate the larger Dunn Center gymnasium in 1975.
Professional career
The Denver Nuggets selected Williams with the second overall pick in the first round of the 1974 ABA Draft. However, his contract was transferred to the Spirits of St. Louis, where he averaged only 9.4 points per game during the 1974–75 season. More renowned for his flair than steady scoring output, his inconsistent performance and off-court issues were highlighted in Terry Pluto's ABA history Loose Balls. Williams did not compete the following season; when the Spirits disbanded amid the ABA-NBA merger, he found himself without a team.
Although the Philadelphia 76ers picked him in the ninth round (152nd overall) of the 1976 NBA draft, they chose not to sign him. Subsequently, Williams played in the Continental Basketball Association and Eastern League but failed to secure NBA interest. He also had a stint playing professionally in Israel but admitted that his temperament hindered serious contract offers after the merger.
Retirement
Williams’s professional journey concluded following a shooting incident involving an off-duty police officer, which left him with reduced lung function and permanent scarring. After retiring, he dedicated himself to mentoring underprivileged youth and remained active in streetball competitions. The Street Basketball Association (SBA) ranks him as the second greatest streetball player in history.
During his time at Austin Peay, Williams earned the nickname that sparked the enduring fan chant: "The Fly is open, let's go Peay!" This rallying cry continues to resonate with supporters. On February 5, 2009, Austin Peay State University honored him by retiring his number 35 jersey.
Coinciding with this ceremony, Knoxville writer Dave Link released a biography entitled The Fly 35.
In May 2017, Williams was taken into custody in Brooklyn, New York, accused of leading a significant heroin trafficking operation. He later entered a guilty plea and was granted parole in January 2023.
See also
Notes
- The New York Times article about Fly Williams' shooting incident
- Pluto, Terry, Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association, Simon & Schuster, 1991,
External links
- Pages with script errors
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- 1953 births
- Living people
- All-American college men's basketball players
- Allentown Jets players
- American men's basketball players
- Austin Peay Governors men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Brooklyn
- Denver Nuggets draft picks
- James Madison High School (Brooklyn) alumni
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- Philadelphia 76ers draft picks
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- Street basketball players