 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1948-09-10)September 10, 1948 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 20, 2005(2005-10-20) (aged 57) Rieti, Italy |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Germantown (Germantown, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Weber State (1968–1971) |
| NBA draft | 1971: 2nd round, 20th overall pick |
| Selected by theChicago Bulls | |
| Playing career | 1971–1983 |
| Position | Center /power forward |
| Number | 35, 40 |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1973 | Virginia Squires |
| 1973–1975 | New York Nets |
| 1975–1976 | Lancaster Red Roses |
| 1976–1982 | AMG Sebastiani Basket Rieti |
| 1982–1983 | Grifone Perugia |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Willard Leon Sojourner (September 10, 1948 – October 20, 2005) was an American collegiate and professionalbasketball player and international coach. He played collegiately atWeber State University and went on to a professional career, winning a championship with theNew York Nets and playing overseas.
The Italian arenaPalaSojourner was named in his honor. Sojourner is known for giving his friend and teammateJulius Erving his famous "Dr. J." nickname. He is the older brother of NBA playerMike Sojourner.
Willard Leon Sojourner was born on September 10, 1948, to George and Dorothy Sojourner, one of their eleven children.[1]
Sojourner attended Germantown High School inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, where he didn't play basketball until his senior year. Until his senior year, Sojourner had concentrated on swimming and track. Eventually, his father and the high school basketball coach both encouraged Willie to give up competitive swimming to concentrate on basketball because of his size. He was a medalist in the backstroke and butterfly in swimming and a talented high jumper in track. Because of his basketball inexperience, Sojourner wasn't highly recruited by colleges.[1][2][3]
Recruited toWeber State University by CoachDick Motta, Sojourner's basketball career at Weber State was record setting. He setBig Sky Conference records in scoring and rebounding, leading the Wildcats to three consecutive Big Sky Conference titles and three straight NCAA Tournament invitations.[4]
He arrived inOgden, Utah for the 1967–68 season under Coach Motta. Freshmen were not allowed to play NCAA varsity basketball at that time, so Sojourner played the 1967–1968 season with the Wildcat freshman team.[5]
In 1968–1969, as a sophomore, Sojourner averaged 18.9 points and 13.1 rebounds asWeber State finished 27-3 under CoachPhil Johnson, as Dick Motta left Weber to become Head Coach of theChicago Bulls.[6] The Wildcats captured theBig Sky Conference title and qualified for the1969 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, where they defeatedSeattle 75–73, behind Sojourner's 22 points and 12 rebounds. They lost toSanta Clara 64–59 in overtime in the West Regional semi-final, as Sojourner had 12 points with 18 rebounds. Weber State then defeatedNew Mexico State in the West Regional third-place game 58–56, as Sojourner had 12 points and 11 rebounds.[7][8]
In 1969–1970, Sojourner led the Wildcats to the Big Sky Conference title, averaging 21.2 points. Weber State lost in the first round toLong Beach State and CoachJerry Tarkanian 92–73 in the1970 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, with Sojourner having 13 points and 9 rebounds.[9][10][11]
In his senior season of 1970–1971, Weber State finished 21-6 and earned their third straight Big Sky Conference Championship, led by Sojourner's 17.8 points and 13.6 rebounds.[12] Again, Weber State was matched up againstLong Beach State and Coach Tarkanian, losing 77–66 in the first round of the1971 NCAA University Division basketball tournament. Sojourner had 9 points and 10 rebounds in his final college game.[13][14]
Overall Sojourner had career totals of 1,563 points and 1,143 rebounds in 81 career games for averages of 19.3 points and 14.1 rebounds. he shot 51.7% from the floor and 72.%1 from the line. His point and rebound totals were Big Sky records at the time. He still ranks second in total rebounds and first in career rebounding average at Weber State, with 14.1 per game.[4][15]
A versatile athlete, Sojourner competed in track and field at Weber State. He placed third in the 1970NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, with a high jump of 7'0". In doing so, he became Weber State's first NCAA All-American athlete.[16]
Sojourner was selected in the second round of the1971 NBA draft by theChicago Bulls. He was also selected theVirginia Squires of theAmerican Basketball Association as their 1st Round pick (#8 overall) in the 1971ABA Draft. Sojourner signed with Virginia and played for the ABA Squires in (1971–1973) andNew York Nets (1973–1975).
As a rookie, Sojourner averaged 6.8 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Squires, playing in all 84 games, alongside teammatesJulius Erving andCharlie Scott. Virginia finished 45-39 under CoachAl Bianchi.[17]
In 1972–1973, Sojourner averaged 7.5 points and 5.7 rebounds for the 42-42 Squires. He played alongside Squires rookieGeorge Gervin.[18]
In a blockbuster trade, with the Squires franchise struggling, on October 20, 1973, Sojourner was traded to the Nets withJulius Erving forGeorge Carter and cash. Sojourner and Erving were roommates on the road, the best man in each other's weddings and Sojourner dubbed Erving with the nickname "Dr. J".[19]
With Erving starring, and Sojourner contributing 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds, the Nets finished 55-29 and defeated the Squires (4–1) andKentucky Colonels (4–0) in the playoffs. Facing theUtah Stars in the ABA Finals, the Nets won the series 4–1 to capture the1974 ABA Championship under CoachKevin Loughery.[20]
In 1974–1975, Sojourner averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 79 games as the Nets finished 58–26. The Nets upset by theSpirits of St. Louis in the playoffs. Sojourner was cut by the Nets after the season.[21]
Overall, In his ABA career Sojourner scored 1968 points (6.0 ppg) with 1488 rebounds (4.8 rpg) in 309 games.[22]
Sojournor's individual ABA highlights include: 6 points in his debut on October 15, 1971, vs. Carolina. He had 25 points vs. theKentucky Colonels on October 27, 1971; 26 points vs. theSan Diego Conquistadors on December 2, 1972; 26 points vs. theCarolina Cougars on January 27, 1974; and 18 vs theDenver Nuggets on February 27. 1975. In his last ABA game, he scored 11 in a playoff loss to theSpirits of St. Louis on 4/15/1975.[23]
Sojourner was waived by the Nets at the start of the 1975–76 season.[24] Sojourner had not played much during the preseason and the Nets, who also had centersSwen Nater andKim Hughes on the roster chose not to keep three centers.[25]
Playing for theLancaster Red Roses of theEastern Basketball Association (EBA) in 1975–76, Sojourner was the EBA Playoff Most Valuable Player,[26] leading Lancaster to the league title.
In 1976, American scout Richard Percudani scouted Sojourner and his brotherMike Sojourner for the Italian basketball teamAMG Sebastiani Basket Rieti. Attilio Pasquetti and Italo Di Fazi, Sebastiani's team and general managers, initially looked to acquire Mike Sojourner, but he had signed with theAtlanta Hawks. They then spoke to Willie, who signed to play in Italy. Sojourner moved toRieti, incentral Italy, and began play inLega Basket Serie A.
Thanks to rules which greatly restricted transfers of foreign players, Sojourner remained with Sebastiani for six years, until 1982. In his six seasons playing in Rieti, Sojourner gained the nickname of "uncle Willie." He became the leader of Sebastiani, playing withCliff Meely,Lee Johnson,Irv Kiffin andTony Zeno among others. Sebastiani played twice in theScudetto semifinals and twice in theKorać Cup finals. They won the1979–80 Korać Cup. Sojourner mentored younger players such asRoberto Brunamonti and Domenico Zampolini.
After leaving the Sebastiani in 1982, Sojourner played one more year in Italy. He joinedPerugia's team, playing in the 1982–83 season, before retiring.
Overall, Sojourner scored 4,799 points inSerie A.[27] He is considered to be one of the best American basketball players ever in the Italian league.
After his Italian retirement, Sojourner returned to the United States.
In 2005,Nuova AMG Sebastiani Basket Rieti (formerlyAMG Sebastiani) offered Sojourner their youth team coaching position. Sojourner was unsure and went to Rieti. When he arrived in Rieti on September 15, 2005, he was welcomed warmly by fans and decided to accept the position.
Sojourner was just over a month into the position when, on night of October 19, 2005, he was killed in a car accident. He was returning to his home nearRieti when, due to rain and high speed, he lost control of his car which crashed into a tree.[28]
His funeral took place inside thePalaloniano, Sebastiani's basketball arena, officiated by the bishop of RietiDelio Lucarelli. Thousands of mourners attended.[29]
One month after his death, Palaloniano was renamedPalaSojourner in his honor. The November 18, 2005 memorial ceremony was attended by Sojourner's family and friendJulius Erving.[1][30]