BRYANT’S MIKE WILLIAMS RECIPIENT OF 2005 NCAA NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNER

SMITHFIELD, RI – Bryant University men’s basketball graduate MIKE WILLIAMS (Ellington, Conn.) has been named the 2005 NCAA Division II National Sportsmanship Award winner announced this week by the Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct (CSEC) and the NCAA. 

“Mike Williams epitomizes everything a true student-athlete should be,” said Bryant men’s basketball head coach Max Good. “He had a fantastic college basketball career, while maintaining more than a 3.5 GPA majoring in Investment Banking. His overall contribution to the Bryant University community was exemplary. I personally felt honored to have the opportunity to be his coach.”

A member of the Bryant men’s basketball team from 2000 to 2005, Williams established himself among the all-time greats in Bryant basketball history.  Named the 2005 Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Williams helped lead the Bulldogs to the NCAA Division II Championship game in 2005 with 10.6 points per game average and team-best 7.9 rebounds per game average. 

In the NCAA Regional Championship, Williams earned all-region honors with 35 rebounds and 19 blocks in just three tournament games. 

Williams concluded his career with a school record 301 career blocks – including a record 90 during his sophomore season. His 1,277 career points ranks 13^th all-time in Bryant history and his 987 career rebounds ranks third. 

Academically, Williams was inducted into the Bryant Chi Alpha Sigma honor society in 2004 and was a Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic and Scholar-Athlete selection in 2005. 

Williams recently played in the Williams Jones Basketball Cup in Taiwan on a team representing the United States.  His team went 9-0 and captured the championship.  He is currently playing professionally in Italy. 

Each of the nominees exemplified the good sportsmanship that characterizes the highest level of respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity, and responsibility during competition.  Williams was one of six selected nationally, with a male and female from Division I, Division II, and Division III recognized.