Former DBA standout import Fred Williams finding success at new NBL1 club Mandurah Magic

FORMER Darwin Basketball star import Fred Williams is enjoying life and finding plenty of success with his new NBL1 West club Mandurah Magic

Fred Williams found plenty of success both personally and for his club while in Darwin. Picture: Che Chorley

FORMER Darwin Basketball star import Fred Williams is enjoying life and finding plenty of success with his new NBL1 West club Mandurah Magic.

Williams was contacted by the NBL1 West club in January with improved visibility of Darwin’s league and COVID-19 restrictions limiting imports not already in the country playing in his favour.

With that came an opportunity for the player who has often lit up the courts of Darwin with Magic flying him down for some training sessions leading to his recruitment.

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And he made an instant impact in the side’s opening 89-67 win over South West Slammers scoring 19 points with three rebounds and two assists.

“The people here have been really welcoming getting me involved in some coaching and giving me a chance to mix in this group,” Williams told the NT News.

“We have some really good bigs, quite a few guards and though the side is quite young I think we have a legit chance of going far this season.

“It’s a young team with some newer signing such as myself so we’re establishing ourselves under a great mix of coaches in Aaron Trahair, Jason Kyle and Ricky Grace.”

Williams wasn’t the only Darwin based basketballer to take the next step in 2021 with fellow imports Joseph Jackson and Jerron Jamerson doing the same alongside Darwin young guns James Toohey, Freddy Webb and Joel De Barros.

Fred Williams lining up a shot for his 2020 DBL outfit Ansett. Picture: Che Chorley

“It’s a great thing, we flew under the radar for some time and even when I moved to WA some didn’t realise there was a Darwin league,” Williams said.

“People didn’t know about us but this past year has given us a chance to prove ourselves for both us imports and some of the younger guys from Darwin.”

Williams played for both Razzle and Ansett in the Darwin Basketball League and truly made his mark in what he deems a rollercoaster 2019.

In that year he lost a grand final, won an Arafura Games gold medal, was named the 2019 Championship MVP and finally won a grand final for Razzle.

After that bumper season he joined Ansett and made finals once again but for the star his focus is now on a big NBL1 season where he can focus on himself and potentially going further.

“My time with Razzle was a rollercoaster and to win a gold medal, a grand final and an MVP in one year was amazing,” Williams said.

“Ansett has a great culture and though we didn’t go as far as we thought we would getting to help and play on their league team was a great experience.

“And working for DBA and through that getting to inspire and coach youth in and out of schools was such an amazing experience full of great people such as Kerri Savidge.

“I will look to come back to Darwin at some stage in an offseason to see where things are going and if I can help out.”