The Chapel Hill News

August 19, 2001

Hoops carry Phelps, Williams around world

Author: Anthony Jeffries; Staff Writer

Edition: Final
Page: B1

CHAPEL HILL -- It was easy to figure out who was the point guard and who was the scoring guard by watching Derrick Phelps and Donald Williams shoot jumpers at Chapel Hill's Blue Heaven Basketball Museum on Wednesday.

Phelps knocked in about half his shots from close range at a miniature goal. Standing five feet away near some University of North Carolina paraphernalia, Williams drained seemingly every jumper on an identical goal.

That much hasn't changed for the former UNC backcourt duo from their college playing days in the early 1990s.

Williams, the Most Outstanding Player of the 1993 Final Four, can still fill it up from the outside. Phelps, the point guard, was noted more for his floor generalship and defense than his scoring.

They were part of a cohesive Tar Heel unit that won the national championship over Michigan's Fab Five in 1993.

"I was always looking for the assist, and (Donald) was always looking for the shot." Phelps said.

The main difference these days is their basketball addresses.

Phelps is entering his fifth season as a pro player in Germany, while Williams has played overseas at various places, such as Germany, Greece, the Philippines, France, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

Their hopes of landing in the National Basketball Association are slowly turning into fading thoughts, although dreams of making the big leagues and earning the riches that accompany it are never completely out of mind.

Phelps hoped he turned some heads of NBA scouts after leading his team, ALBA Berlin, to the German League Championship this past season.

Williams was one cut away from making the Detroit Pistons last season before heading to France and then Richmond, Va., to play in the International Basketball League.

But Phelps and Williams understand their window of opportunity may be too small to crawl through now.

They can accept their basketball fate, especially given Phelps is making a six-figure salary and is a star in Germany, and Williams is getting paid doing something he loves.

"The dream is to always come back and play in the NBA, but if that is not going to happen, then you've got to settle for what you have," Phelps said. "I'm comfortable. I am making a good living overseas.

"It is taking care of me, so why not stick with it."

Phelps heads back to the same German team in Berlin this week to start the preseason. Williams will make another attempt to land on an NBA team, but will be satisfied if he plays anywhere, whether it is in this country or overseas.

After getting married and expecting his second daughter this summer, Williams is more concerned with taking care of his family than the hoopla of playing in the NBA.

"The older you get, it becomes a reality check," Williams said. "I just got married, and I've got a daughter, and I am about to have another.

"I've got to think about family now so I am fortunate to continue to play basketball to make money. (The NBA) is still in the back of my mind, but I've got bills to pay."

Phelps played with the Sacramento Kings for three games during his rookie season. After seeing action in two games, Phelps figured he was there to stay, but eventually wound up in the now-defunct Continental Basketball Association and later Germany.

Life in Germany has been great. Phelps is the team's star.

"They treat you as the man," Phelps said. "Out there you are the top dog. It is a great feeling, like in high school or college when you were the top player.

"You are always in the papers. Everybody comes to me, win or lose."

This past season was Phelps' best as a professional. He averaged 15.9 points and dished out 4.2 assists on his first year with the team, which included former UNC teammate Henrik Rodl.

Phelps showcased his all-around skills, something he wasn't able to do on other German teams because he lacked a viable supporting cast.

Phelps says that his reputation as a floor leader and not a scorer hurt his chances at an NBA career, but that is the only way he knows how to play.

Not that he is crying, mind you. A stellar performance last season has boosted his value among foreign teams.

"Playing in this league still gives me some more exposure to the NBA scouts," Phelps said. "A lot of them come out there and see those type of games against top-level competition.

"I still might have a chance to come back one year, but at this moment, I enjoy playing in Germany."

Williams says that he averaged about 18 points in France before getting homesick.

He joined the IBL midway during the season and struggled for minutes on the Richmond team. He saw action late in the season and averaged about 17 points.

Williams never lost his scoring touch, but after having been to three NBA camps, he knows the league is more than just skills.

"With all the guaranteed contracts, you have got to really be lucky and be at the right place at the right time," Williams said.

Williams knows all about timing. He picked the perfect moment to have two of the best games of his college career. He poured in 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, to spark the Tar Heels over Michigan 77-71 in the 1993 NCAA title game.

In the semifinals, Williams scored 25 points in the win over Kansas.

"Some days you can't miss, and some days you can't make one," Williams said. "I know when you do have days like in '93, you think, 'Why can't it be like that all the time?'

"The type of pressure and the situation made it that much greater for me. The Final Four is something you dream about winning, and to step up and have a game like that is like a dream."

Both Phelps and Williams started on a Carolina team known for its great chemistry. Eric Montross was the low post presence, and George Lynch was an all-around forward who did whatever it took to win.

Brian Reese was a wing player who slashed to the bucket.

Because Williams could shoot from the outside, Phelps always made sure he knew where his backcourt mate was.

"When you got a person who can shoot the ball the way he shoots, you've got to know where that person is at," Phelps said.

Without a bona-fide superstar, the Tar Heels captured the ACC regular-season title and posted a 34-4 mark on their way to the national title. They survived two close games against Arkansas and Cincinnati in the NCAA East Regional.

For Phelps, winning the NCAA championship is the highlight of his basketball career.

"It is probably one of the best feelings I've ever had," Phelps said. "Nothing compares to the college experience I had."

The national championship game is replayed on the ESPN Classics channel once in a while. Neither Phelps nor Williams has watched the replay.

Both are too busy with their professional lives, but they do get a chance to hang out together during the summer.

The two are close friends who both graduated with degrees in African-American Studies. Last summer, they played with former teammate and UNC All-American Jerry Stackhouse in a Raleigh summer league.

Wednesday they were together inside Blue Heaven, posing for pictures, side-by-side like their days on the basketball court.