Jawad Williams

Jawad Hason Williams (born February 19, 1983) is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played high school basketball at St. Edward High School of Lakewood, Ohio (suburban Cleveland) and collegiately for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.

High school career

While at St. Edward, Williams played limited time as a freshman on a team anchored by Sam Clancy, Jr. and Steve Logan that went on to win the OHSAA state title in 1998.^[1] During his later years in high school, he was named first team All-Ohio and named to numerous All-American teams. He was named AP and Gatorade Player of the Year for Ohio and played in the McDonald's All-American Game.

Collegiate career

Williams played collegiate basketball under coaches Matt Doherty and Roy Williams at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He started as a senior for the Tar Heel team that won the 2005 NCAA tournament.

Professional career

Williams was not selected in the 2005 NBA Draft. However, he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA during the 2006•2007 season. He appeared in four preseason games for the Clippers, starting one, but did not make the final roster.

After playing in Spain, Japan and Israel,^[2] Williams joined the Cleveland Cavaliers' summer league team in July, 2008 and made the team's training camp roster.^[3] On October 23, the Cavs waived veteran guard Ronald Dupree, and Williams became a full-fledged member of an NBA team for the first time in his career. His contract was nonguaranteed until January 10, 2009, after which time the contract would have been guaranteed.^[2]

Williams played in his first regular season NBA game and scored his first points on December 12, 2008, against the Philadelphia 76ers.^[4] Williams became the sixth member of North Carolina's 2005 National Championship team to play in the NBA, joining Rashad McCants, Sean May, Raymond Felton, Marvin Williams, and David Noel.

Williams was waived by the Cavs on January 7, 2009. Five days after being released from the Cavs he re-signed with the team with a 10-day contract.^[5] He was released on February 2 after his second 10-day contract expired. He then joined the D-League with Rio Grande Valley Vipers on February 14. On April 8, he was re-signed to a contract for the rest of the season.

On February 9, 2010, Williams put up a career high in points with 17 to go along with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 28 minutes of play.

College Statistics

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

References

1. ^ List of Ohio Boys State Basketball Champions
2. ^ ^{a b} Brian Windhorst (2008). "St. Edward grad Jawad Williams earns spot with Cleveland Cavaliers". The Plain Dealer Newspaper. http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/122483713388720.xml&coll=2. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
3. ^ NBA.com. "Cavaliers Training Camp Roster". http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/trainingcamp_roster_080928.html.
4. ^ http://www.nba.com/games/20081212/PHICLE/boxscore.html
5. ^ http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/williams_waived_090107.html

External links

• Profile at official UNC athletics site
• Profile at NBA.com

Categories: 1983 births | Living people | African American basketball players | American basketball players | American expatriate basketball people in Spain | American expatriate basketball people in Israel | American expatriate basketball people in Japan | St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio) alumni | Basketball players from Ohio | Cleveland Cavaliers players | Hapoel Galil Elyon players | Baloncesto Fuelabrada players | North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball players | McDonald's High School All-Americans | People from Cleveland, Ohio | Small forwards