The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams

Real talk with Jerome Williams:  Growing up outside DC, the work ethic his parents instilled in him, always thinking ahead, the value of education, those years with AI, the bright lights of the NBA, why his 5th quarter started right after high school and what he’s working on now for the young athletes in the making.

These days community service and advocating for the next generation is the foundation of who Jerome Williams is. A star player out of Georgetown University going #26 in the 1996 NBA Draft, Williams made great use of his playing days, but always with an eye for the future.

Williams readily admits his reality was “my 5th quarter started right after high school” when his parent gave him an ultimatum.   Hard work was always the core of Williams from a young age paying his way through his first few years at the JUCO level, earning his college degree at Georgetown or developing that hard work nickname of “Junkyard Dog”.   Williams never shied away from hard work… ever.

He took the JUCO route out of high school and payed for that experience himself working a variety of jobs. Jobs that also prepared him for life after competitive sports.

In 1992, Williams was an undersized 6-2 forward from Magruder HS who was too small to play forward at Georgetown (the school he grew up watching). Williams appeared headed for American University but opted to go to junior college instead and work on his game. Eventually earning the recognition of the late great Coach John Thompson. Two years later, thanks to a growth spurt, Georgetown was very interested. Williams had grown to 6-9, averaging 26 points and 17 rebounds a game at Montgomery College. “When I got [to Georgetown],” he said, “I already knew what I was going to be asked to do.”

The college experience was invaluable for Jerome Williams, who called his Georgetown graduation the proudest moment of his life. In the intervening years, he has been a visible example of the importance of education and community involvement, taking on initiatives with much the same passion that drove him in two years of basketball at Georgetown.

The 26th pick of the 1996 draft, he began a successful run that saw him collect over 3,700 rebounds in nine NBA seasons across four teams, despite averaging only 21 minutes per game. Perhaps even more notable was the interest Williams took in community relations in various NBA cities.

Jerome Williams resides in Washington D.C. area and is actively involved in the basketball community as an advocate, mentor, coach and visionary for the future of the athlete.

Find Jerome on Social Media

• Instagram @junkyarddogjw
• Twitter @JunkYardDogJW
• Linkedin Jerome Williams
• IP FAMBA Website
• Shooting For Peace

SPONSORED BY: Sandy Adams Creative Group: Sandy offers one-on-one coaching, personal brand building & consulting. Go >>HERE<< to get started today at https://sandy-adams.com/