Bill Willoughby

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William (Bill) Wesley Willoughby (born May 20, 1957 in Englewood, New Jersey) is an American former professional basketball player. After graduating from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1975 NBA Draft as the first pick in the second round (19th overall), bypassing college for a chance to play professionally.[1] He, along with Darryl Dawkins, were the first high school students to be drafted into the NBA.

Contents

[edit] Playing Career

While Moses Malone (drafted into the ABA out of high school in 1974) and Dawkins enjoyed more successful professional careers, Willoughby had a career that was undistinguished. He was a journeyman who played for six different NBA teams in eight years, before his career ended with the New Jersey Nets in 1984, at the age of 26.

[edit] Post career

Though he later regretted skipping college, Willoughby eventually received his degree in communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2001, at the age of 44.

He has since become a vocal advocate in support of education.

Willoughby currently resides in Hackensack, New Jersey.[1]

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

  1. ^ a b Broussard, Chris. "Why Pros Spent 20 Years Shunning High Schoolers", The New York Times, November 16, 2003. Accessed November 19, 2007. "He had averaged nearly 40 points a game at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, N. J., and seemed to have all the physical tools to be a star.... Willoughby, 46, now lives in relative anonymity in a two-bedroom apartment in Hackensack, N.J."
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