CASE # HITS.08 - HOMICIDE

YOU CAN SAY THAT COREY "HOMICIDE" WILLIAMS is one of the most decorated streetball players in our generation. Everywhere you see him, you know something is bound to happen. Whether it's his on the court display or off the court drama, you can always say that there's nothing like seeing him play. From entering the streetball landscape back in 2000, he has done nothing but create headaches for defenses and become one of the most prolific scorers streetball fans haven't seen since the days of Ron "Terminator" Mathias. Being labeled as the new generation's "Terminator", he has definitely become that in many ways. A one man havoc is what you would call Mr. Williams in a nutshell. Every and any park in New York City, you can pencil him in for 20, 30, 40 and 50, entertain the fans, cause a little drama in the mean time, and make everyone go home satisfied.

A recent conversation took place with the man of 1,000 nicknames, evolving around his legendary status in New York City streetball, his unfinished matchup with Allan Ray, K1X "187" shoe and the pressure, if there's any, of playing streetball in front of the New York City fans.

Randy Cruz: Describe your season this past summer at HITS
Corey Williams: This season was cool. Due to my hectic schedule in the summer, I only played a hand full of games, but as usual, I enjoyed the time I had at HITS. It's a highly competitive summer tournament and if your not in shape, that heat will wear you down man!

RC: You've played at HITS for a couple of years now...where do you see HITS from when you first played there to now?
CW: Just like me, HITS has definitely come a long way, from sponsors, the players, the level of competition in the games has risen alot,
the crowd, and the support and the respect throughout the city, it has definitely come a long way.

RC: Do you see it as a tournament that everyone should be playing in, from streetball players to college players to NBA players?
CW: This is already the tournament college ballers to NBA ballers play in. Its ran very professional and that's what Ilike about it the most. Some tournaments are ran very unprofessional. It takes a lot more than just good players to have a good tournament.

RC: What's your favorite summer tournament to play in New York City? Why?
CW: There isn't one favorite tournament for me. I love em all, and that's why I play in all of them when I have the opportunity to do so.

RC: If you were a streetball tournament spokesperson, which tournaments are the "must see tournaments" that you would tell the streetball fans to attend and why those tournaments?
CW: HITS, EBC, Dyckman, Kingdome, Pro City, West 4th...in no specific order, but year in and year out, the cream of the crop in summer basketball are playing in these leagues. If you want to measure yourself amongst the best hoopers in NYC and NJ, you have to get it done at these places.

RC: Talk about the Allan Ray situation back in July
CW: I wasn't supposed to play. I got a text message that Allan Ray was playing so I was in the Bronx already. So 10 minutes after I got the text message, I showed up and we matched up. Allan Ray is a good player. It was a good battle. A couple calls didn't go in his favor and he had 4 or 5 fouls in the 1st half. He got dressed and left at half time, saying the referees wasn't calling it fair and he didnt want to risk injury. That's what happened.

RC: Did him leaving early give you a different perception of him as a streetball player?
CW: He's a good player, and if he felt that the refs were calling it unfair, and don't wanna play anymore, that's his call. I would have never left, but that's me. Either way, he's a good player and I wish him luck wherever he's playing. Safety and health is more important before anything.

To continue reading part 2 of this conversation, click on link. Part 2