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Kavell Bigby-Williams
Kavell Chevano Bigby-Williams (born 7 October 1995) is a British professional basketball player for the Jilin Northeast Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He was named NABC NJCAA Player of the Year as a sophomore at Gillette College in 2016, before playing college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and the LSU Tigers. Early lifeBigby-Williams grew up playing soccer in East London. He was a 6'6 goalkeeper at the age of 15 when he broke his leg. After recovering from his injury, he turned his attention to basketball and quickly mastered the fundamentals. As a senior at Harris Academy Beckenham, he averaged 20.7 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6 blocks per game.[1] He committed to play college basketball at Montana State but failed to qualify academically, so he instead ended up at Gillette College in Wyoming.[2] College careerAs a freshman, Bigby-Williams averaged 10.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.[3] As a sophomore at Gillette, Bigby-Williams averaged 16.8 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per game. He was named NABC NJCAA Player of the Year.[1] Bigby-Williams was the top-ranked junior college prospect and signed with Oregon in April 2016.[4] As a junior, Bigby-Williams averaged 3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[1] He received more playing time after Chris Boucher was injured in the Pac-12 Tournament.[2] In the NCAA Tournament, he averaged 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game to help Oregon reach the Final Four. Following the season, he opted to transfer to LSU. After posting 14 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and a steal in a 83–69 victory at Ole Miss, followed by 12 points and 11 rebounds in an 89–67 win against South Carolina, Bigby-Williams was named SEC player of the week on 21 January 2019.[5] As a senior, he averaged 7.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.[6] Professional careerNBA G LeagueAfter going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Bigby-Williams was signed by the Charlotte Hornets but quickly released, instead joining the New Orleans Pelicans.[7] Bigby-Williams was signed by the Pelicans on 6 August 2019 to an Exhibit 10 contract.[8] After playing in one preseason game, he was waived on 19 October.[9] He joined their affiliate in the NBA G League, the Erie BayHawks. On 10 January 2020, Bigby-Williams missed a game with an undisclosed injury.[10] He posted 18 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks, one assist and one steal in a loss to the Iowa Wolves on 23 January.[11] Bigby-Williams averaged 8.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 25 games. On 4 February, he was traded to the Sioux Falls Skyforce in exchange for Raphiael Putney.[12] On 27 February, Bigby-Williams was traded to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in exchange for a 2020 2nd round pick and the rights of Isaiah Hartenstein.[13] EuropeOn 14 December 2020, he signed with Pallacanestro Cantù of the Lega Basket Serie A.[14] On 11 March 2021, Bigby-Williams left Cantù[15] and moved to Belgium in the Pro Basketball League, signing with the Antwerp Giants.[16] On 19 August 2021, he signed with Anwil Włocławek of the Polish Basketball League.[17] Return to the G LeagueOn 1 February 2022, Bigby-Williams was re-acquired by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League through his returning player rights.[18] Kaohsiung 17LIVE SteelersOn 12 September 2023, Bigby-Williams signed with the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers of the P. League+.[19] On 22 December, his contract was terminated.[20] Astros de JaliscoBigby-Williams joined the Astros de Jalisco of the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA) in Mexico ahead of the 2024 CIBACOPA season, arriving in time to participate in the preseason Copa Salsa Huichol.[21] He earned league All-Star honors.[22] Al Ahli TripoliOn 29 October 2024, Bigby-Williams signed with the Al Ahli Tripoli of the Libyan Division I Basketball League.[23] Jilin Northeast TigersIn November 2024, Bigby-Williams linked with the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the team's import for the 2024–25 PBA Commissioner's Cup,[24][25] but he took an offer of trying out with the Jilin Northeast Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), NorthPort Batang Pier changed to tap Kadeem Jack.[26][27] On 27 November, Bigby-Williams signed with Jilin Northeast Tigers.[28] National team careerBigby-Williams represented Great Britain in its Under-20 and Under-18 teams, averaging 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game between the two squads.[1] He represented the senior national team at EuroBasket 2022.[29] Personal lifeBorn in England, Bigby-Williams is of Jamaican and Dominica descent. He is a cousin of the British-Canadian boxer Lennox Lewis.[30] References
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