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UNC Basketball Alumni: Jawad Williams returning to Japan for 16th season

By Zack Pearson

TACHIKAWA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 09: Jawad Williams #31 of Alvark Tokyo looks on during the B.League match between Alvark Tokyo and Shiga Lakestars at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi on February 09, 2019 in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
TACHIKAWA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 09: Jawad Williams #31 of Alvark Tokyo looks on during the B.League match between Alvark Tokyo and Shiga Lakestars at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi on February 09, 2019 in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images) /
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Jawad Williams has found a new home overseas as he will return for a 16th season of basketball, this time playing in Japan

Former North Carolina basketball forward Jawad Williams isn’t retiring just yet.

Despite just playing two seasons in the NBA from 2008-10 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Williams has found success overseas playing the game he loves. And on Sunday, he announced that he wasn’t retiring just yet and instead will play in his 16th season.

Williams tweeted out that he is returning to play for Japanese basketball team Levanga Hokkaido of the B.League, marking his first season with the team and 16th overall. Here is the message he posted on Sunday:

https://twitter.com/WORLDWAD/status/1276687116655833089

The tweet translates to:

“Thank you very much. I am also looking forward to returning to Hokkaido. Returning to Hokkaido is happy. Hokkaido, I’m coming back for year #16.”

Last season, Williams played for Tochigi Brex Utsunomiya in Japan’s B-League, averaging 7.2ppg and 2.9rpg. That helped lead Utsunomiya to the second-best record in the league. Before that, Williams played a few games with Koshigaya Alphas before joining Utsunomiya .

The 37-year-old Williams went undrafted after a four-year career at North Carolina but has managed to bounce around overseas. He’s played in Israel, France, Turkey, Greece, and most recently Japan. Along the way he’s also been able to play with former teammates David Noel and Sean May in France.

This could be the last season for Williams overseas as he just turned 37 back in February.

Next. Theo Pinson has a new home in the NBA. dark

For more on Williams and other former UNC Basketball players, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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