Phillip Williams, a former Winthrop University forward, made significant contributions to the Eagles basketball program, building on a successful high school career. Williams, who stands 6-foot-8, was a key rotation player for Winthrop for four seasons, contributing to several strong teams.
During his time at Winthrop, Williams helped the Eagles secure three consecutive Big South Conference tournament victories in 2005, 2006, and 2007, leading to appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His senior year, the 2006-07 season, marked his most statistically impressive, with averages of 8.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. That season, Winthrop achieved a 29-5 record and a top 25 national ranking. The team notably defeated sixth-ranked Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Williams concluded his college career with a strong performance against Oregon, recording 8 points and 7 rebounds in his final game. For his college career, he accumulated 803 points and 492 rebounds, shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 75 percent from the foul line. His field goal percentage on two-point attempts was 58 percent. While recruited by Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall primarily for his defensive effort and rebounding ability, Williams also demonstrated scoring capability, including a 19-point game against UNC Asheville and a 17-point game against Mount St. Mary’s.
Before his collegiate success, Williams was a standout player at West Rowan High School, where he was part of two 3A championship teams in 2002 and 2003 and a program that achieved 61 consecutive victories. He finished his high school career with 1,139 points, placing him 10th on West Rowan’s all-time scoring list. After college, Williams continued his basketball career internationally, playing in a top league in Lithuania. He is scheduled to appear on the Salisbury-Rowan Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2027.
