Bill Chambers (basketball)

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Bill Chambers
College The College of William & Mary
Conference Southern (present-day CAA)
Sport Basketball
Position Center
Jersey # 32
Career 1951 – 1953
Height
Weight
Nationality American
Born December 13, 1930 (1930-12-13) (age 77)
Lynchburg, Virginia
High school E.C. Glass High School
Flag of Virginia Lynchburg, Virginia

William B. "Bill" Chambers (b. December 13, 1930) is an American former college basketball player for the William & Mary Tribe.[1]

He attended E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, Virginia where he led his team to a state championship and an undefeated season (22-0) during his senior year.[1]

Chambers then went on to play collegiately for The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia from 1951-1953. He earned All-State, All-Southern Conference and Helms All-American status while playing for the Tribe. On Valentine's Day of his senior year (14 February 1953), Chambers set an NCAA single game rebound record of 51 against the University of Virginia.[1] It is a record that still stands to this day. He was also selected as Virginia’s Outstanding Collegiate Basketball Player that same year.[2]

Bill Chambers ended his William & Mary career with 1,456 points, a total good enough for 7th all-time in Tribe men's basketball history. He also set the Virginia schools' record for rebounds in a single season when he grabbed 509 in 1951-52.[3] His jersey number (#32) was retired and now hangs in the rafters of William & Mary Hall.[2]

In the 1953 NBA Draft, Chambers was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers as their 11th pick.[2] Despite the selection, he was cut by the Lakers during pre-season.

In 1957, Bill returned to his alma mater to coach his former team after several years of highly successful high school coaching.[1] Over the course of the next nine seasons (six of which were winning years), he compiled at 113-110 career record. It is still highest total number of wins in W&M history for a coach.[2] The most notable win during his tenure was on January 30, 1960, when his unranked Tribe defeated #4 West Virginia University 94-86. The win broke the Mountaineers' 56-game Southern Conference winning streak.[2] For his accomplishments, Chambers has been inducted into the William & Mary Hall of Fame.[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e HOF Inductees 1995: Bill Chambers. Accessed March 19, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e William & Mary 2007-08 Media Guide - All-Time Stats & Players. Accessed March 19, 2008.
  3. ^ Virginia Basketball Records: Men's Division I Individual Records. Accessed March 19, 2008.


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William & Mary Tribe Head Basketball Coaches

Blanchard • Withers • Crawford • W. Young • Draper • Hubbard • H. Young • Geddy • Driver • Tasker • Jones • Kellison • Dowler • Kellison • Steussey • McCray • Holt • Gallagher • Wilson • Hooker • Baird • Chambers • Mitchell • Ashnault • Balanis • Br. Parkhill • Ba. Parkhill • Swenson • Woollum • Boyages • Shaver