Yorick Williams
Encyclopedia
Yorick Williams is a British
professional basketball
player, and currently plays for the Milton Keynes Lions
in the British Basketball League
.
Williams is, without doubt, one of the most prolific ballers from British hoops scene, having played over 5600 minutes in the BBL, and scoring over 3300 points for six different teams. The 6ft5 Guard has represented his country with both the England national team
and the Great Britain team
in his career.
when he was signed professionally in 1994 from their junior teams, making his senior debut against the Greater London Leopards on September 25, 1994. In his first season (1994-95), he helped his team reach the final of the BBL Championship Play-off's and also won the Slam Dunk contest in 1995.
Yorick stayed with the Giants for two more seasons before signing for Derby Storm
in 1998. Although only staying with Storm for the 1998-99 season, Williams averaged 17.33 PPG in 24 appearances. In 1999, he signed for the Birmingham Bullets
, the first of two spells with the Midlanders. The Guard's impressive form continued over two seasons and in 2001, he earned a lucrative move to Aris Thessaloniki
in the prestigious Greek A1 Ethniki
league.
and signed for the Essex Leopards, the same franchise he made his BBL debut against way back in 1994.
While Yorick had an impressive career up to this point, there was a severe lack of honours won, and he was desperate for success. The Leopards were one of the best teams to grace the league in the 1990s, but following the end of his first season (2002-03
) when he averaged 15.22 PPG, the Leopards franchise withdrew from the league and yet again the journeyman was forced to find another club.
came calling and Williams signed for the South-coaster's in what would be his most successful spell to date. The 2003-04
season saw Brighton, with the help of Yorick's average of 14.16 PPG, dominate the domestic scene, winning the BBL Championship and finishing runners-up in the BBL Trophy, losing by 2 points (66-68) against the Chester Jets. This season also saw the Bears compete in the ULEB Cup
, and for Yorrick a return to playing basketball against European opposition. Brighton took 3rd place in Group F, with a 4-6 record.
The 2004-05
season saw Brighton again finish runner-up in the BBL Trophy, and although they could not retain their Championship crown, they did find triumph in the BBL Cup, beating the Scottish Rocks
90-74. For Yorrick it was a season of mixed emotions as the triumph's were tarnashed by injury that restricted him to just 19 games, averaging 17.26 PPG.
, and after only two games into the 2005-06
season, Williams was transferred back to the Birmingham Bullets
. In 29 games for the struggling Bullets, rooted to the foot of the table for the season's duration, Williams posted a career high 23.90 points-per-game, the highest in the league. Birmingham's financial pressures were too much to handle however, and the franchise went into liquidation
in 2006. For the 2006-07
season, Williams signed with East Midlander's the Leicester Riders
, but after a dire season blighted by off-court difficulties, including unpaid wages, Williams departed the troubled club and headed south to sign for the Milton Keynes Lions
for the 2007-08 season
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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, and currently plays for the Milton Keynes Lions
Milton Keynes Lions
The Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions due to sponsorship, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL...
in the British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
.
Williams is, without doubt, one of the most prolific ballers from British hoops scene, having played over 5600 minutes in the BBL, and scoring over 3300 points for six different teams. The 6ft5 Guard has represented his country with both the England national team
England national basketball team
The England national basketball team represents England in international basketball competitions. The team is organized by England Basketball, the sport's governing body in England...
and the Great Britain team
Great Britain national basketball team
The Great Britain men's national basketball team, known as Great Britain or GB, is the national team for Great Britain in basketball...
in his career.
Playing for the Giants
His career started with his hometown team, the Manchester GiantsManchester Giants
Manchester Giants was a team in the British Basketball League from 1990 to 2001.During its existence, the team won the Trophy in 1999 and the BBL Championship in 2000. The tenure of coach Nick Nurse, which included these two seasons, was the most successful period in the club's history...
when he was signed professionally in 1994 from their junior teams, making his senior debut against the Greater London Leopards on September 25, 1994. In his first season (1994-95), he helped his team reach the final of the BBL Championship Play-off's and also won the Slam Dunk contest in 1995.
Yorick stayed with the Giants for two more seasons before signing for Derby Storm
Derby Storm
Derby Storm was a former British Basketball League franchise from the city of Derby, Derbyshire. The team took the decision to sit out the 2002-03 season after failing to find a suitable venue for home games...
in 1998. Although only staying with Storm for the 1998-99 season, Williams averaged 17.33 PPG in 24 appearances. In 1999, he signed for the Birmingham Bullets
Birmingham Bullets
The Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...
, the first of two spells with the Midlanders. The Guard's impressive form continued over two seasons and in 2001, he earned a lucrative move to Aris Thessaloniki
Aris BC
Aris Basketball Club is the professional basketball team of the Thessaloniki-based Greek sport club Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of Aris Thessaloniki....
in the prestigious Greek A1 Ethniki
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
league.
Back to England
However after just one season in the Mediterranean, Williams returned to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and signed for the Essex Leopards, the same franchise he made his BBL debut against way back in 1994.
While Yorick had an impressive career up to this point, there was a severe lack of honours won, and he was desperate for success. The Leopards were one of the best teams to grace the league in the 1990s, but following the end of his first season (2002-03
British Basketball League 2002-03
The 2002-03 season was the 16th campaign in the history of the British Basketball League.-Teams:-Notable occurrences:*Attracted by the opening of the brand-new 4,000-seat Braehead Arena in Glasgow, Edinburgh Rocks uprooted from their aging Meadowbank venue in Edinburgh and moved 45 miles west to...
) when he averaged 15.22 PPG, the Leopards franchise withdrew from the league and yet again the journeyman was forced to find another club.
Overdue success
Brighton BearsBrighton Bears
Brighton Bears was a British basketball team based in Brighton, Sussex. From 1984 to 1999 the club was known as the Worthing Bears and was based in the town of Worthing, 12 miles west of Brighton. The Bears played in the top-flight British Basketball League until 2006 when the franchise folded...
came calling and Williams signed for the South-coaster's in what would be his most successful spell to date. The 2003-04
British Basketball League 2003-04
The 2003-04 season was the 17th campaign in the history of the British Basketball League.-Teams:-Notable occurrences:*Due to uncertainty rearding the future of Aston Events Centre, the Birmingham Bullets were forced to relocate to a new home venue...
season saw Brighton, with the help of Yorick's average of 14.16 PPG, dominate the domestic scene, winning the BBL Championship and finishing runners-up in the BBL Trophy, losing by 2 points (66-68) against the Chester Jets. This season also saw the Bears compete in the ULEB Cup
ULEB Cup
Eurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
, and for Yorrick a return to playing basketball against European opposition. Brighton took 3rd place in Group F, with a 4-6 record.
The 2004-05
British Basketball League 2004-05
The 2004-2005 season was the 18th campaign in the history of the British Basketball League, which commenced on October 2, 2004, and ended with Newcastle Eagles' win in the Play-off Final on May 1, 2005...
season saw Brighton again finish runner-up in the BBL Trophy, and although they could not retain their Championship crown, they did find triumph in the BBL Cup, beating the Scottish Rocks
Scottish Rocks
The Glasgow Rocks is a basketball team which competes in the British Basketball League. Formerly known as Scottish Rocks and also Edinburgh Rocks, they are one of the leading franchises in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Kelvin Hall...
90-74. For Yorrick it was a season of mixed emotions as the triumph's were tarnashed by injury that restricted him to just 19 games, averaging 17.26 PPG.
A season to remember
The summer of 2005 brought wholesale changes at BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, and after only two games into the 2005-06
British Basketball League 2005-06
The 2005-06 season was the 19th season of the British Basketball League, which ran from September 23, 2005 through to April 11, 2006. The season started earlier than usual because of England's participation in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, which took place during the regular season.Eleven teams took...
season, Williams was transferred back to the Birmingham Bullets
Birmingham Bullets
The Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...
. In 29 games for the struggling Bullets, rooted to the foot of the table for the season's duration, Williams posted a career high 23.90 points-per-game, the highest in the league. Birmingham's financial pressures were too much to handle however, and the franchise went into liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
in 2006. For the 2006-07
British Basketball League 2006-07
The 2006-07 season, the 20th since its establishment of the British Basketball League, started on September 29, 2006 when reigning champions Newcastle Eagles began with a 85-83 loss away to Sheffield Sharks....
season, Williams signed with East Midlander's the Leicester Riders
Leicester Riders
The Leicester Riders, officially known as the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders for sponsorship reasons, is a British professional basketball team that play in the British Basketball League...
, but after a dire season blighted by off-court difficulties, including unpaid wages, Williams departed the troubled club and headed south to sign for the Milton Keynes Lions
Milton Keynes Lions
The Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions due to sponsorship, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL...
for the 2007-08 season
British Basketball League 2007-08
The 2007-08 season, the 21st since the establishment of the British Basketball League, commenced on September 9, 2007, when the Plymouth Raiders succumbed to the Guildford Heat in the inaugural Cup Winners' Cup competition...
.
Career history
- 2007–present Milton Keynes LionsMilton Keynes LionsThe Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions due to sponsorship, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL...
- 2006-07 Leicester RidersLeicester RidersThe Leicester Riders, officially known as the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders for sponsorship reasons, is a British professional basketball team that play in the British Basketball League...
- 2005-06 Birmingham BulletsBirmingham BulletsThe Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...
- 2003-05 Brighton BearsBrighton BearsBrighton Bears was a British basketball team based in Brighton, Sussex. From 1984 to 1999 the club was known as the Worthing Bears and was based in the town of Worthing, 12 miles west of Brighton. The Bears played in the top-flight British Basketball League until 2006 when the franchise folded...
- 2002-03 Essex LeopardsEssex LeopardsThe Essex Leopards, or just Leopards as they were more commonly known, was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League...
- 2001-02
Aris ThessalonikiAris BCAris Basketball Club is the professional basketball team of the Thessaloniki-based Greek sport club Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of Aris Thessaloniki.... - 1999-01 Birmingham BulletsBirmingham BulletsThe Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...
- 1998-99 Derby StormDerby StormDerby Storm was a former British Basketball League franchise from the city of Derby, Derbyshire. The team took the decision to sit out the 2002-03 season after failing to find a suitable venue for home games...
- 1994-98 Manchester GiantsManchester GiantsManchester Giants was a team in the British Basketball League from 1990 to 2001.During its existence, the team won the Trophy in 1999 and the BBL Championship in 2000. The tenure of coach Nick Nurse, which included these two seasons, was the most successful period in the club's history...