Ex-UNC star Williams jons Furman staff

Furman men’s basketball coach Jeff Jackson announced the addition of former University of North Carolina standout and NBA player Shammond Williams to the Paladin staff as an assistant coach.

Williams, a native of Greenville, S.C., joins the Paladins after concluding a 13-year career in professional basketball that included time in the NBA and in Europe. A second round choice of the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 NBA Draft, Williams earned time with seven NBA franchises over his career, including Seattle, Boston and Orlando. He also played seven seasons overseas and helped Spanish club FC Barcelona to the European semifinals in 2006. A naturalized citizen of the Republic of Georgia, he has represented Georgia internationally and claimed Most Valuable Player honors at the 2005 Euro Challenge All-Star Game.

A prep standout at Southside High School for head coach Mark Huff, Williams guided the Tigers to the 1992 AA state title before helping his school to the 1993 Upper State championship and a state runner-up finish. After attending Fork Union Military Academy, he played under head coaches Dean Smith and Bill Guthridge during a four-year career at North Carolina.

Williams, who played alongside Rasheed Wallace, Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter during his career at UNC, averaged 16.8 points and 4.2 assists per game as a senior in 1998 to propel the Tar Heels to a 34-4 record and NCAA Final Four appearance. He averaged 10.7 points and 3.0 assists per game over his four seasons in Chapel Hill, N.C., while setting single season schools records for free throw percentage (91.1%) and three-point baskets (95). He finished his college career with a school record 233 three-point baskets and 84.9% success rate at the foul line.

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