Lefty Williams (basketball player)
| File:Harold Lefty Williams2020.jpeg Lefty Williams at Sherman Oaks | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 30, 1981 Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St Aloysius High School (Jersey City, New Jersey) |
| College | Montclair State University (2000–2002) NJCU (2002–2004) |
| Playing career | 2004–present |
| Position | Showman |
| Number | 4 Harlem Ambassadors 42 Nottingham Knights 33 Harlem Globetrotters 42 Harlem Dreams |
| Career history | |
| 2004–2005 | Harlem Ambassadors |
| 2005–2006 | Nottingham Knights |
| 2006–2008 | Harlem Globetrotters |
| 2010–2012 | Harlem Ambassadors |
| 2014–Present | Harlem Dreams |
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Harold "Lefty" Williams (born October 30, 1981) is an American basketball player who was the first left handed showman in Harlem Globetrotter history.[1] Following his departure in 2008 he started the Dare2Dream campaign which became the Harold Lefty Williams Dare2Dream Foundation. Harold also co-founded the Harlem Dreams[2] which he currently plays for.
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Williams attended St. Aloysius High School,[3] Jersey City. At St. Aloysius he accumulated 1101 points and 985 rebounds. He also was the all-time shot blocker in school history. On the local totem pole, around 1999 to 2000, he was just below top prospects Dajuan Wagner, Jason Williams, and Samuel Dalembert. He went to Montclair State University[4] and later transferred to New Jersey City University[5] in Jersey City. He completed his college education with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Business Management.
Early life[edit]
Williams was born on October 30, 1981 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was raised by his father Harold and mother Rita Gethers. He has seven siblings, five sisters and two brothers. His father Struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction, but eventually changed his life for the better. His mother was a pastor in a church for over 15 years. Williams grew up in a Christian background and was mentally and physically abused at the hands of his father. Lefty had long known that anything worth having wouldn't come easy. He learned at an early age that there would be many days of hard work and sacrifice. When Lefty became a father his father Harold worked hard at mending his broken relationship with his son, they remained close until his death in March 2014. He credits who he is today from the many growing pains he faced in life. Growing up in New Jersey's second largest city, he knew that the key to his success would not come by blending into the crowd. He would have to dare to dream.[6]
After graduating from St. Aloysius High School Lefty briefly attended Montclair State University.[4] He attended Montclair for two years and then transferred to New Jersey City University were he graduated with a degree in Mass-Communications. He also earned a minor in Business Management. He began to pursue his professional basketball career in 2004 with the Harlem Ambassadors[7]
Career[edit]
Williams Started his career with the Harlem Ambassadors in August 2004. The Harlem Ambassadors was a show basketball entertainment team now bought out by the Harlem Wizards. In 2005 Harold signed a free agent deal with the British Basketball League first division. Harold played in the BBL for one season with the Nottingham Knights where he led the league in scoring. After the season finished Harold opted to return home to play in the NBA Summer League as a free agent in Long Beach, California.
Williams played for the Washington Generals in April 2006 and was later traded to the Harlem Globetrotters in September 2007. During his career with the Globetrotters he travelled to 25 countries, including all 50 states of the United States and 8 provinces in Canada. Harold was famous for being the first left-handed Globetrotter in the history of The Globetrotters as the tricks and trick shots were designed for right handed showman. After his departure from the Globetrotters in 2008, ESPN, the world's largest sports network, called his trade “From the losingest team of all time to the winningest team of all time... a deal straight out of Ripley’s Believe it or Not”. The article by Tom Friend, gave the world a glimpse of the story about the man that is Harold “Lefty” Williams. Lefty is now the Co. Founder of his own entertainment team the Harlem Dreams.
In 2008, Lefty and his wife Shyneefa Williams launched the Dare2Dream Campaign in an effort to provide local youth with life changing experiences that would broaden their perspectives of all that the world has to offer. The campaign, which has grown into the Harold Lefty Williams DARE2DREAM Foundation, which was formed in 2014.
In 2012 Harold partnered with the RCMP in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada to help bring Dare2Dream to schools on Vancouver Island. He also partnered with the Alberni District Secondary School junior boys’ basketball team to help them win a championship. Harold organized several basketball events such as the Unity Celebrity Basketball event in 2013 to raise money for youth programs in Port Alberni.
In August 2012 Harold released his solo album ‘From the Hardwood 2 Hard Praise’ which he wrote from his own life experience.
In 2014 Harold and his wife Shyneefa formed the Harold Lefty Williams to improve the quality of life for youth and young adults through the development of sports, educational and character development programs.
In 2014 Harold and Ray K Morris started the Harlem Dreams an exhibition show basketball team that at present time continues to tour all over the world. Every show includes incredible athleticism, entertainment and comedy.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Harlem Globetrotter all Time Roster". Harlem Globetrotters | All Time Roster.
- ↑ "The Harlem Dreams BASKETBALL". harlemdreams.net. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Friend: The man who wanted to be a Globetrotter - ESPN Page 2". espn.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Harold Williams - Men's Basketball - Montclair State University Athletics". montclairathletics.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Former NJCU Men's Basketball Standout Harold Williams Featured by ESPN.COM - New Jersey City University Athletics". njcugothicknights.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ↑ "ucwmagazine.com/profiles/index.php/2015/07/13/former-harlem-globetrotter-harold-lefty-williams/". ucwmagazine.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Back to "The Future" Jersey City native Williams becomes pro player in England, now looks to give back to community - Hudson Reporter Archive". archive.hudsonreporter.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
External links[edit]
- Harold Lefty Williams found here in the All Time Globetrotters at the Harlem Globetrotters site
- The Harlem Dreams website Harlem Dreams
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