‘Sticky’ attains Basketball Hall of Fame status

When Randolph “Sticky” Williams tried his hands at Basketball in his home town of Calliaqua in the early 1990s, he never envisaged in 2024 that he would have attained Hall of Fame status. The reality of his contribution to the Washburn University Basketball of Kansas, USA, was recognized last Saturday, October 5, 2024, when the winning unit of the 2001 National Collegiate Athletics Association Championships title was inducted in the institution’s history.

A Brunch Ceremony, attended by all but one of the winning units, attended the gala function held at the University’s auditorium. Williams, who was flown to the USA for the auspicious occasion, is still revelling in having such an accolade and status bestowed on him.

“I must say that it was a really good feeling to first being recognized, and to be reconnected in the flesh with some of my former team mates… For me, the honour of Hall of Fame, it is one of the highest honours that a sports person can get.”

For Williams, from the hard court in Calliaqua to the status of Hall of Fame at the Washburn University, was well worth the while. Williams revealed that it was fellow Vincentian and teammate, Oral Roberts, who was enrolled at the

Bossier Parish Community College, in 1996 helped facilitate his entry into the US collegiate circuit.

He (Roberts), spoke to the school about me and I got there in 1997…I spent two years there where I was the leading scorer on the team, averaged 20 points per game, during the 1998/1999 season”,Williams recalled. At the Junior College level, Williams also gained selection to the All- Regional Team, as he built his reputation in the sport. This performance put Williams in good stead as other institutions made offers for his services, but Washburn University was his final choice.

“I got many offers from schools, but when I visited Washburn University, they made me feel at home, because there were two other players from the Caribbean, one from St Lucia and the other from Grenada, who came up on scholarships,” Williams explained.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for Williams, who had to adjust to “a new culture, teammates and coaching styles”.

“Despite the ups and downs, I managed to end the season as the second best in scoring, but for me I was below my standards”, he admitted.

Self- conscious, and knowing the demands of the US Basketball system, Williams said on his return to St Vincent and the Grenadines during the college break, he worked on his weaknesses.

“I came home, did some individual work on my stamina and that helped me going into the next season and onwards.”

In his stellar year, 2001, Williams scored 13.2 points per game and had 4.3 rebounds per game.

Williams though, also valued his stints with Calliaqua United in the St Vincent and the Grenadines National Basketball Championships, and representing the country.

For Williams, the successful journey in Basketball, attaining Hall of Fame status is his pinnacle, but was not his own doing, hence, he is grateful for those who helped in his formative years in the sport.

“I would like to thank persons like Wayne Williams, Kelly Lucas, Archie Trotman, Franklyn Quashie- those are some the guys who inspired me.”