Boo Williams
Marcellus Spencer "Boo" Williams Jr. (born 1959) is an American former college basketball player and influential youth basketball coach from Hampton, Virginia, widely recognized for founding and leading AAU programs that have developed elite talent.[1] Williams starred at Phoebus High School before playing forward at Saint Joseph's University from 1977 to 1981, where he averaged double-digit points each season and tallied 1,554 career points, ranking 14th in program history; he was later inducted into the Hawks' Hall of Fame.[2][3] In 1982, inspired by Philadelphia youth leagues, he established the Boo Williams Summer League with an initial investment of $400 and 46 participants, expanding it into a premier AAU organization that has won multiple Peach Jam national championships and produced numerous NBA professionals.[4][5] As National Chair for AAU Boys and Girls Basketball and a member of developmental committees for USA Basketball and the ABA, Williams has been described as one of the most powerful figures in American youth basketball outside collegiate or agency circles.[6][7] His efforts include the Boo Williams Sportsplex, a multi-court facility in Hampton dedicated to youth sports, and he received the Walt Disney World Wide Sports Volunteer of the Year award in 2001.[6][3] While AAU basketball broadly faces criticism for emphasizing tournaments over skill fundamentals, Williams' programs have been cited as exceptions prioritizing player growth amid the system's commercialization.[8]Early life
Childhood and family background
Eddie Lee "Boo" Williams was born on June 22, 1979, in Tallahassee, Florida.[9] He attended Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, where he lettered in football for three years and, as a senior, recorded 35 receptions for 700 yards and 15 touchdowns.[10][11] Williams grew up in Florida before pursuing higher education out of state.[12]College career
University of Arkansas
Williams transferred to the University of Arkansas from Coffeyville Community College ahead of the 1999 season, where he had previously played wide receiver for two years.[10][13] As a junior in 1999, Williams appeared in eight games for the Razorbacks, recording 28 receptions for 384 receiving yards and four touchdowns.[14][15] In his senior year of 2000, Williams emerged as the team's leading receiver, hauling in 52 passes for 739 yards and seven touchdowns over 11 games.[16][17] His 52 receptions ranked 10th in program single-season history, while his seven touchdown receptions tied for eighth; the 739 yards tied for 18th all-time at Arkansas.[16] Williams achieved two 100-yard receiving games that season, including a career-high 171 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions against Boise State.[16] Over two seasons with the Razorbacks, Williams totaled 80 receptions for 1,123 yards and 11 touchdowns, with his 11 career receiving scores tying for 15th in school history.[18][16] He started as a wide receiver but later transitioned to tight end in the NFL after going undrafted in 2001.[9]Professional football career
New Orleans Saints
Williams signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2001, following his college career at the University of Arkansas where he played wide receiver.[19][10] The Saints converted him to tight end, during which he added about 30 pounds to his frame to adapt to the position's blocking and inline requirements.[10] Over five seasons (2001–2005), Williams appeared in 50 games for the Saints, starting 20, and established himself as a reliable red-zone target with sure hands.[20] He recorded 107 receptions for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns, contributing primarily as a pass-catching tight end in an offense that featured quarterbacks like Aaron Brooks and Jake Delhomme.[21] His most productive year came in 2003, when he achieved a career-high 110 scrimmage yards in a 33–20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on November 23.[22] On January 22, 2004, Williams agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Saints, securing his role amid the team's push for playoff contention.[23] He departed the Saints as a free agent after the 2005 season, having earned roughly $2 million in career earnings up to that point, including an initial rookie salary of about $200,000.[24]New York Giants
Williams signed with the New York Giants as an unrestricted free agent tight end on June 8, 2006, following his release by the New Orleans Saints in February 2006 after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the 2005 preseason.[25] The signing came amid the Giants' efforts to bolster their tight end depth, with Williams bringing prior NFL experience of 107 receptions for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns over 59 games, all with the Saints from 2001 to 2004.[9] However, he did not record any statistics or appear in regular-season games during training camp or preseason contests. The Giants waived him on August 29, 2006, as part of final roster cuts before the regular season.[26] This marked the end of his brief association with the team, after which he transitioned to the Arena Football League.[9]Kansas City Brigade
Williams signed with the Kansas City Brigade of the Arena Football League prior to the 2007 season, transitioning from his NFL experience to the indoor league format.[27] In 2007, he established himself as a key wide receiver for the Brigade, appearing in multiple games and leading the team in scoring production. Williams recorded 45 receptions for 473 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns, contributing significantly to the Brigade's offensive output during a season that saw the team compete in the AFL's Central Division.[27] His touchdown total ranked among the league's higher marks for wide receivers that year, with notable performances including three receiving touchdowns in a 52-41 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage on April 14, 2007.[28] Additionally, in a 60-41 win against the Utah Blaze, Williams earned Ironman of the Game honors for his all-around contributions, which included offensive plays alongside defensive efforts totaling 10 tackles across the season.[29][27] Williams returned to the Brigade in 2008 but had a diminished role, appearing in only one game with minimal statistical impact before being placed on recallable waivers.[27] His brief AFL stint with Kansas City highlighted his versatility as a big-bodied receiver capable of high-volume scoring in the confined arena environment, though injuries and roster dynamics limited his overall tenure.[11]Career statistics
NFL receiving and scoring statistics
Boo Williams appeared in 52 regular-season games over four NFL seasons (2001–2004), all with the New Orleans Saints as a tight end, recording 107 receptions for 1,143 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.[9] [21] His receiving touchdowns accounted for all of his NFL scoring, totaling 72 points (6 points per touchdown).[9] Williams signed with the New York Giants in June 2006 following an ACL injury that caused him to miss the 2005 season, but he did not appear in any games for the team and recorded no statistics.[30] The following table summarizes Williams' NFL regular-season receiving statistics by year:| Year | Team | Games | Receptions | Yards | Average | Longest | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | NO | 11 | 20 | 202 | 10.1 | — | 2 |
| 2002 | NO | 16 | 13 | 143 | 11.0 | 32 | 2 |
| 2003 | NO | 16 | 41 | 436 | 10.6 | 31 | 5 |
| 2004 | NO | 9 | 33 | 362 | 11.0 | — | 3 |
| Career | 52 | 107 | 1,143 | 10.7 | 32 | 12 |