JaCorey Williams (203-C-1994, college: MTSU) is a 29 year old 203cm center from Birmingham, Alabama playing his 7th professional season and first with KK Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (Montenegro-Erste Liga). He palyed his first 2 pro seasons for G-League team Canton Charge averaging 15.6ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 61.4%, and 15.2ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 65.3%. Then he came overseas and has played in countries like Israel for Hapoel Galil Gilboa (Israel-Winner League) averaging 8.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 49.5%, FT: 50.0%, Hyundai Mobis Phoebus (South Korea-KBL) averaging 5.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 2FGP: 56.0%, FT: 45.0%, PAOK Thessaloniki (Greece-A1), Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy-Serie A) averaging 17.8ppg, Reb-5 (7.8rpg), 1.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, FT: 69.0%; JL Bourg Basket (France-Betclic ELITE ProA), averaging 8.4ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 55.9%, FT: 43.1%; Eurocup: 15 games: 9.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 59.8%, FT: 46.5% and for Gevi Napoli Basket (Italy-Serie A) averaging 15.1ppg, Reb-3 (7.9rpg), 1.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 63.1%, FT: 43.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against ratiopharm Ulm.

Thanks JaCorey for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 6th season overseas and have played in countries like Israel, South Korea, Greece, Italy, France and Montenegro. Do you feel like a basketball globetrotter and what have you enjoyed most about the life style?

Yes I do feel like a globetrotter in a way because I have played at least one game in any country you can think of in Europe. The thing I enjoy most is meeting new teammates and sharing and listening to stories about different experiences while playing in Europe and Asia. I also enjoy seeing new countries and trying comparing food from different countries.

Your playing for KK Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (Montenegro-Erste Liga) this season. What kind of an experience has Montenegro been after having played in France and Italy the last 3 years. Has it been an adjustment living in a country like Montenegro?

Montenegro is a bit small but surprisingly nice here in Podgorica. I didn’t know much about the country before so I didn’t know what to expect. Living here has not been a big adjustment at all other than it being small. The food is good and the living is good as well

This season your playing Eurocup again. You played in this competition a few years ago in Italy having a very strong season. How do you feel has your game grown in the past 2 years that will help you be another dominant player in Eurocup?

I feel like I have always been an aggressive player offensively and defensively but I feel that I can read the game a little better now. I have a better idea of when to get my teammates involved and when to attack for myself. Defensively I’m always smaller than my opponent, particular in the post. I am better at using my energy and quickness to disrupt the rhythm of the bigger post players. I think I can continue to get better in these areas and become dominant in Eurocup again this year.

Your teammates with ex NBA player Brandon Paul. What has it been like being his teammate? How inspiring is a guy like him who began overseas and then reached the NBA?

It’s always great to have that type of experience on a team because they can help you stay motivated because they have seen a lot more in their career. A guy like Brandon is motivation because he is a great example of someone who stayed in his own lane and although he didn’t go immediately to the NBA he eventually achieved that goal by working hard overseas.

Last season you played for Gevi Napoli Basket (Italy-Serie A,) averaging 15.1ppg, Reb-3 (7.9rpg), 1.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 63.1%, FT: 43.0%. It was your second season balling in Italy. Was Naples one of those cities that you will never forget? What did you enjoy most there about the city?

Naples is definitely a city I will never forget because of the passion of the fans and the city. They really want to win there and they have a fan base similar to some euro league teams in my opinion. The thing I enjoyed most was the weather and the food there in Naples.

Two season ago you played for JL Bourg Basket (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 8.4ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 55.9%, FT: 43.1%; and in the Eurocup averaged 9.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 59.8%, FT: 46.5%. Scoring wise not one of your better seasons. You seemed to play better in the Eurocup competition. What memories do you have of that season?

The year in France was by far the most difficult season for me because we had a great team that underachieved in my opinion. The players (American and French) did not agree with the coaching style and we never really found a rhythm and we never reached our full potential as a team. I think I played better in Eurocup competition because I had already had experience playing in the Eurocup.

What was it like being teammates with former NBA champion Norris Cole of the Miami Heat? Was there a game that will always remain in your memory with him?

Norris was a guy that brought a lot of experience to our team and he came a little too late in my opinion. He shared all of the great stories from the Championship teams he played on in Miami. The best memory I have with him in a game was the first game he played when he arrived where he scored 20 points which seemed effortless in my opinion.

In the 2020-2021 season you played with Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy-Serie A) averaging 17.8ppg, Reb-5 (7.8rpg), 1.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, FT: 69.0%; and in the Eurocup averaged 15.0ppg, Reb-3 (7.4rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 58.6%, FT: 68.1%. Despite Covid being in full swing, is it fair to say this was your best season overseas?

Trento was definitely my best season overseas. I had the most confidence and shot the best from the free throw line in my overseas career. Covid was difficult for all of us to play through but to be able to play great through that year was definitely tough for me but it also showed me that I had another level I could reach as player and in life.

In the 19-20 season you split time with Hyundai Mobis Phoebus (South Korea-KBL) averaging 5.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 2FGP: 56.0%, FT: 45.0%, and in Jan.’20 moved to PAOK Thessaloniki (Greece-A1) averaging 9.0ppg, 6.8rpg. How tough was this season? After moving from South Korea to Greece, Covid came and wiped out the season. What did you learn from this season?

This season was tough because I did not feel I had the opportunity to prove myself in Asia because the minutes were not there for me. I moved back to Europe for that reason and Covid came unexpectedly. That year was tough because I felt like I had something to prove to myself and I just wanted to play at a high level because I knew I was capable of that. Covid also made me realize that some things in life are out of my control and I have to control only what I can control and do my best when I have to opportunity to do so.

In Greece you were teammates with Bobby Brown, a guy that came overseas and then reached the NBA in 2008, then returned overseas in 2010 and came back to the NBA in 2016. This guy has seen it all? Was he a player that one could bond with off the court?

Bobby has definitely seen it all especially in the basketball world. He has played almost everywhere in the world and has a lot of experience. Bobby was definitely a cool guy to bond with off the court. He showed us around the city and often held game nights at his house that he invited us to. One of the best vets I have played with in my career.

You played your first 2 pro seasons in the G-League playing 100 games for Canton and each season almost had identical stats with 15/7. Do you feel like you were ever close to a NBA call up? Especially at the end of your rookie season you had many 20 * plus point games.

Although I played great in the g league, I feel like I was never close to a call up because of how the game was changing and becoming more of a three point shooting league. Yes I feel like if I had the chance I could produce at that level but I never thought I would get that call up because of my play style which was effective but more of an inside game. At my size I feel it would have been tough to do in the NBA.

Was there an example you remember seeing where you saw that the NBA will be a business first before anything else? You know for example like a great player getting released for roster space etc?

Yes I saw it my first year in the g league when I was teammates with John Holland. He was a small piece to the Cavs roster to most people but everyone on the inside knew what John Holland brought to that team and he was waived without and warning or notification. It also happened during one of our g league games so no one knew about it until we came to the locker room. That’s when I knew it was all about business no matter what you have given to a team over the years.

Near the end of your rookie season you played briefly with Hapoel Galil Gilboa (Israel-Winner League) averaging 8.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 49.5%, FT: 50.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being with a NBA G-League team?

That year taught me that overseas basketball is played much different from the way the game is played in the g league and my wake up call was that if I ever wanted to make it to the NBA and not come overseas then I really had a lot of work to do to try to make that happen for me. It was really different for me in Israel and I didn’t know if I would be able to adjust to being overseas after that first year.

You played 3 season for the University of Arkansas (NCAA) playing a total of 96 games. You never averaged more than 4,8ppg. How tough were these 3 years. Could you gain anything positive from this time?

Being at Arkansas taught me how to persevere through difficult times and to always work hard even when things don’t go your way. Basketball wasn’t going my way there and I needed that to happen for me to be where I am today

You reached the NCAA tournament your junior year and played 18 minutes in the loss to North Carolina. Was that one of your fondest memories on the court?

That was one of the biggest games I’ve played in during my college career and I could never forget the atmosphere during that game. North Carolina had a great team with great size and I will always have the memory in my head from that game.

You then finished at Middle Tennessee State University (NCAA) averaging 17.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 13.3%, FT: 69.6%. Was this one of the best decisions in your life deciding to go there?

Going to MTSU was by far the best decision In my life. I needed a new team and new coach after the bad experience in Arkansas and that’s exactly what I got. I was taught more about the details of basketball and that’s what helped me become a better player.

How did head coach Kermit Davis help groom and prepare you for a professional career?

He helped me focus on the small details of the game because the talent was there. He taught my team to stay disciplined on the court even if we were winning the game and that stayed with me even as a professional.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Reggie Upshaw?

Me and Reggie always battled at practice but I never lost at practice haha

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I can name a few players from Kentucky. Julius Randle, Devin Booker, Karl Anthony-Towns.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Bobby Portis, Norris Cole, Kj Mcdaniels, Zach LeDay, Kobi Simmons

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Micheal Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant

Who is your GOAT and why?

My goat is Lebron James not only because of talent but because he lived up to every expectation that people thought he should be and more. On top of that he did it with many doubters!

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Haha I actually have never seen Coming to America don’t hate me.

Thanks JaCorey for the chat.