May 22, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Former Terrapin All-American and 18-year NBA veteran Buck Williams was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in his home state of North Carolina at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 21. Williams, a native of Rocky Mount, N.C., forged a standout career in College Park from 1979-1981 before a tremendous professional tenure.

An outstanding scorer and extraordinary rebounder, Williams earned Converse All-America honors following a superlative junior campaign. Williams averaged 15.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game during the 1980-81 season, his final year as a Terrapin.

Williams has carved a place among the Terps' all-time record books as the No. 4 rebounder in Maryland history with 928 in his career. His career rebounding average of 10.9 per game still stands as the second-best in school history. Williams averaged double-figure scoring in each of his three seasons while registering the school's best-ever career field goal shooting percentage -- 61.5 percent. He led the ACC in rebounding as a freshman in 1978-79, finished third in 1979-80 and ranked second during the 1980-81 season. Williams is one of only 15 players in school history to have his number honored above Maryland's home floor.

Additionally, Williams was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that did not compete in the Moscow Olympic Games. He applied for a hardship waiver into the NBA college draft following his junior season, was selected as the No. 3 player overall by the New Jersey Nets, and went on to be named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1982. He played 18 seasons in the NBA with the Nets, Portland Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks.

In addition to Williams, the state of North Carolina's Sports Hall of Fame also honored Betty Springs Geiger (NC State track & field), Mike Gminski (Duke basketball), Earl Smith (East Carolina baseball), Danny Talbot (North Carolina football and baseball) and Sue Walsh (North Carolina swimming & diving).