This week’s Baller of the Week is Corey “Homicide” Williams. In his first two games this summer as a member of Bowens Basketball at Dyckman, he dropped 46 and 30 points, usually fighting through double-teams.
Corey Williams is “one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet, a family man with a wife and kid,” Dyckman coach Matthew Bowens said. Corey Williams may be a nice guy, but “Homicide,” as he’s known on the courts, is a hoop killer.
Last summer, he was named 2004 Rucker MVP after he dropped 26 points on Ron Artest, the Indiana Pacer who was just weeks removed from being named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
“After that game I really got the respect from the city,” Williams said. He earned his nickname in 2000 at Rucker when he burst onto the scene dropping 30-point games, shredding defenders and suffocating the team’s lead guard. He is a relentless worker on the court with a shrewd knack for scoring and attacking, but “the most dangerous man in the playground” takes as much pride in his defense.
“I want to go after [the other team’s] defense, and on defense I’m going to shut their best man down,” Williams said. “I call myself a throwback player … like an NBA player from the early ’90s with the no-layup rule in effect.” Williams, 27, loves the game. The 6-foot, 2-inch Bronx native travels the world as a basketball ambassador, or, if you ask his opponents, assassin.
“My traveling the world to play this game has helped to build character,” Williams said.
“Homicide” has left casualties around the globe with stops in China, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Sweden and Venezuela, but NYC is where his heart is (though he now lives in Denver with his family).
“There is nothing like NYC basketball,” Williams said. “An NYC basketball player will stand out anywhere in the world … and I pride myself on being an NYC basketball player. We are different from the way we talk trash to the way we move on the court.”
You can catch “Homicide” playing in multiple leagues this summer, and he already has added names to his NBA hit list.
“At Dyckman, it’s real … I had two NBA players double-teaming me and I gave it to them,” Williams said. “I had J.R. Smith [Hornets] and Dahntay Jones [Grizzlies] double-teaming me.
“Two guys in the NBA were double-teaming me! But I like that, because in the tournaments no one can save them.”
—
RIVALRY WEEK SCHEDULE
TODAY
West 4th Basketball League
The Cage
(West 3rd & 6th Avenue)
6 p.m. Footprintz Stars vs. Youngsters
Dyckman College/Pro League
Msgr. Kett Playground
(204th St. & Nagle)
6:30 p.m. Team Fam vs. Team 914
7:45 p.m. Start N vs. Team Dynasty
Nike Pro City
Hunter College Gymnasium
(68th St. & Lexington)
6:30 p.m. PDG Queens Bridge vs. United Brooklyn
8:30 p.m. Prime Time vs. Dyckman
TOMORROW, JULY 6
West 4th Basketball League
The Cage
6 p.m. Rock Scorers vs. Show’s Ballers
Dyckman College/Pro League
Msgr. Kett Playground
6:30 p.m. Anotha Level vs. Bowen’s Basketball
7:45 p.m. Rodney Park vs. Da Posse
THURSDAY, JULY 7
West 4th Basketball League
The Cage
6:00 p.m. Ice Tea vs. Money Train
Dyckman Seniors League
Msgr. Kett Playground
6:15 p.m. Harlem Lions vs. CYG
7:15 p.m. Kingdome Ballers vs. Riverside hawks
8:15 p.m. Mookies All-Stars vs. Dyckman
Nike Pro City
Hunter College Gymnasium
6:30 p.m. Uptowners vs. Nike “E” One
8:15 p.m. N.Y. Skyriders vs. Gold’s Gym
FRIDAY, JULY 8
West 4th Basketball League
The Cage
6 p.m. Lance All Stars vs. Bowens Basketball
Dyckman College/Pro League
Msgr. Kett Playground
6:30 p.m. Wild Life vs. KYDA
7:45 p.m. Take No Prisoners vs. Da Young Ones
SATURDAY, JULY 9
West 4th Basketball League
The Cage
3 p.m. Paradize vs. Rare Hunters
4:30 p.m. United Brooklyn vs. Chazz Hoops
6 p.m. Diamond’s vs. Big Apple Basketball
Dyckman College/Pro League
Msgr. Kett Playground
3 p.m. JTA vs. Bway Bway Ent.
5:30 p.m. 84th Street vs. Team Unk
6:45 p.m. Dominican Power vs. Ooh Way Ent.
