Blake Williams (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Blake Williams is a retired American
basketball player. He won two national championships at Oklahoma A&M University
and represented the U.S. as a member of the 1950 FIBA World Championship
in Buenos Aires, Argentina
.
Williams, a 6'2 guard from Lawton, Oklahoma
, attended Oklahoma A&M from 1944–48, winning championships with the Aggies in both 1945
and 1946
with future Hall of Fame teammate Bob Kurland
. Williams was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference
in 1946, in a year when all five Aggie starters composed the all-conference first team.
Following the completion of his collegiate career, Williams opted to compete in the Amateur Athletic Union
, instead of the fledgling professional leagues, the National Basketball Association
or the Basketball Association of America
. He joined the Denver Chevrolets, a move that enabled him to become a part of the U.S. National team's entry to the first FIBA World Championship
in 1950.
Williams played in all six of the team's matches as the team won their first five games to reach the final against host team Argentina
. In the final the U.S. team lost 64-50 as 38 fouls were called on the Americans and Argentina tallied more points from the foul line than from the field. The U.S. team had only four players on the floor at the end of the game. Williams averaged 3.3 points per game for the tournament, with his best game coming in the fourth contest against Chile
. Williams led the Americans in scoring with nine points.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball player. He won two national championships at Oklahoma A&M University
Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball
The Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team represents Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cowboys currently compete in the Big 12 Conference.Since 1938, the team has played its home games in Gallagher-Iba Arena...
and represented the U.S. as a member of the 1950 FIBA World Championship
1950 FIBA World Championship
The 1950 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from October 22 to November 3, 1950. Ten nations participated in the inaugural tournament. All competition was held at the Luna Park, Buenos Aires...
in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
.
Williams, a 6'2 guard from Lawton, Oklahoma
Lawton, Oklahoma
The city of Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the southwestern region of Oklahoma approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, it is the principal city of the Lawton Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, attended Oklahoma A&M from 1944–48, winning championships with the Aggies in both 1945
1945 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1945 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 8 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 22, 1945, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in New York City...
and 1946
1946 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....
with future Hall of Fame teammate Bob Kurland
Bob Kurland
Robert Albert "Bob" Kurland was a basketball center, who played for Henry Iba's Oklahoma A & M Aggies basketball team...
. Williams was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
in 1946, in a year when all five Aggie starters composed the all-conference first team.
Following the completion of his collegiate career, Williams opted to compete in the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
, instead of the fledgling professional leagues, the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
or the Basketball Association of America
Basketball Association of America
The Basketball Association of America was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. The league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, forming the National Basketball Association ...
. He joined the Denver Chevrolets, a move that enabled him to become a part of the U.S. National team's entry to the first FIBA World Championship
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
in 1950.
Williams played in all six of the team's matches as the team won their first five games to reach the final against host team Argentina
Argentina national basketball team
The Argentina national basketball team represents Argentina in basketball international competitions, and is controlled by the Argentine Basketball Federation....
. In the final the U.S. team lost 64-50 as 38 fouls were called on the Americans and Argentina tallied more points from the foul line than from the field. The U.S. team had only four players on the floor at the end of the game. Williams averaged 3.3 points per game for the tournament, with his best game coming in the fourth contest against Chile
Chile national basketball team
The Chile national basketball team represents Chile in basketball international competitions, and is controlled by the Federación de Básquetbol de Chile...
. Williams led the Americans in scoring with nine points.