Devin Williams: From West Virginia Mountaineer to Global Basketball Journeyman

Devin Jamar Williams, born on May 31, 1994, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). His journey in basketball has taken him from high school in Cincinnati to college stardom at West Virginia University, and then across the globe to various leagues and teams.

Early Life and High School Career

Williams began his high school career at Withrow High School in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. Before his junior year, a tragic event struck when his younger of two older brothers, Donshae Williams, was fatally shot in August 2011. Williams described the incident as "just a bad night. Wrong place, wrong time. It's sad, but that's how my city is. That's how my city is going."

For his senior year in 2012, Williams transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. This move provided him with an opportunity to further develop his skills and compete against top-tier high school talent.

College Career at West Virginia University

Williams committed to West Virginia University (WVU), where he played for the Mountaineers from 2013 to 2016. His time at WVU was marked by consistent performance and growth, establishing him as a key player for the team.

Freshman Season (2013-14)

As a freshman in 2013-14, Williams quickly became an integral part of the Mountaineers' lineup. He started 31 of 33 games, averaging 23.3 minutes per game. His contributions were significant, as he averaged 8.4 points per game while shooting 41.1 percent from the field. Notably, he led the team in rebounds with 7.2 per game.

Read also: The Growth of Devin Vassell

Williams's impressive freshman campaign earned him recognition as he was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. He recorded eight double-doubles, which ranked as the third-most all-time by a WVU freshman. He also tied Kansas' Joel Embiid for the most double-doubles by a Big 12 Conference freshman. Furthermore, he had nine double-figure rebounding performances throughout the season. One notable game was when West Virginia overcame Andrew Wiggins' 41 points to stun Kansas on March 8, 2014.

Sophomore Season (2014-15)

In his sophomore year (2014-15), Williams continued to be a consistent presence for the Mountaineers. He started all 34 games, averaging 24.9 minutes per game. He increased his scoring output, registering 11.6 points per game, and continued to lead WVU in rebounding with 8.1 boards per game.

Williams's performance placed him among the top players in the Big 12 Conference. He ranked 15th in scoring and third in rebounding. He also recorded the second-most double-doubles in the Big 12 with nine. On March 7, 2015, West Virginia beat Oklahoma State 81-72.

Junior Season (2015-16)

As a junior in 2015-16, Williams had a career year, showcasing significant improvements in his game. He started 34 of 35 games, averaging 25.4 minutes per game. He posted career highs in points (13.3), rebounds (9.5), and assists (1.4).

His outstanding performance earned him several accolades, including second-team All-Big 12 honors, USBWA All-District II Team recognition, and NABC All-District 8 second team honors.

NBA Draft Declaration

On March 29, 2016, Williams declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility. He signed with an agent in April, but he was not invited to the NBA combine.

Professional Career

After declaring for the NBA draft, Williams embarked on a professional basketball career that has taken him to various leagues and teams around the world.

Milwaukee Bucks (2016)

After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Williams signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in June 2016. He later joined the Bucks for the 2016 NBA Summer League.

Melbourne United (2016-2017)

In August 2016, Williams signed with Melbourne United of the Australian National Basketball League. However, his time with the team was short-lived. There were rumors of import sacking, which the team strongly denied. He played in a game against the Hawks on November 6, 2016, and against the Kings on December 11, 2016. In December 2016, he suffered a knee injury. In January 2017, Josh Boone remained with the club.

Greensboro Swarm (2017)

Williams joined the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA Development League in 2017.

Read also: The Rise of Devin Singletary

Boston Celtics (2017)

Williams participated in the 2017 Orlando Pro Summer League. In September 2017, Williams signed with the Boston Celtics. However, he was waived by the Celtics in October 2017.

Vaqueros de Bayamon (2018)

In April 2018, Williams signed with Vaqueros de Bayamon of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) in Puerto Rico.

Büyükçekmece (2018)

In July 2018, Williams signed with Büyükçekmece of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.

KK Budućnost (2018-2019)

In April 2018, Williams signed with KK Budućnost of the Montenegrin Basketball League.

Tofaş (2019-2020)

In July 2019, Williams signed with Tofaş of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.

Jiangsu Dragons (2020-2021)

In September 2020, Williams joined the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Bahçeşehir Koleji (2021-2022)

In July 2021, Williams signed with Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.

Unicaja Malaga (2022)

In January 2022, Williams was added to the roster of Unicaja Malaga. However, he failed a medical examination, and the agreement was voided.

Return to Vaqueros de Bayamon (2022)

In February 2022, Williams returned to Vaqueros de Bayamon.

Taoyuan Leopards (2023-2024)

In October 2023, Williams joined the Taoyuan Leopards. The team became a big winner at the T1 League annual data awards. In August 2024, Williams re-signed with the Taoyuan Leopards, teaming up with Kromah.

Changwon LG Sakers (2025)

In May 2025, Williams joined the Changwon LG Sakers.

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