Boo Williams and the Transformation of Youth Basketball

The journey of basketball player Boo Williams has taken him from his hometown of Hampton, Virginia, to St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, to France, and to the fledgling Irish Basketball Association. His grassroots program, the Boo Williams Summer League (BWSL), trains amateur hoopers for college- and professional-level competition. Along the way, Williams has nabbed a Nike sponsorship and a place in the AAU Basketball hierarchy. Between 1982 and the present, BWSL produced two NBA no. 1 overall picks, 21 NBA first rounders, 32 NBA and WNBA players, an NBA head coach, and several NCAA All-Americans in men's and women's basketball.

In this book, Williams' life provides insight into the importance of a grassroots pipeline and the growth of basketball into a global business. Behind AAU, NCAA, NBA, and European leagues are individuals such as Williams, who labored as a player, coach, and program leader to advance the sport.