A connection beyond basketball: Deonte Williams' journey comes full circle

When Deonte Williams and Will "Davo" Hickey cross paths on Saturday night, it will be about much more than basketball.

Before the Adelaide 36ers and Illawarra Hawks do battle in their Indigenous Round clash, the pair will share a special moment on court, taking part in a traditional Aboriginal gift exchange as well as a quick catch-up.

For Williams, the occasion carries an added significance. Both he and Hickey, along with Tasmania’s Biwali Bayles came through Sydney's Redfern All Blacks, a basketball club built around its local community and made up predominantly of First Nations players. Among his coaches was NRL and Boxing great Anthony Mundine, and Williams counts his son Anthony Mundine III among his best friends.

Hickey and Willliams would later both go to school at Trinity Grammar School, though Hickey is about four years older.

It was there, in the heart of Sydney, that their basketball journeys began and where lifelong connections were forged. Now, with Williams representing the 36ers and Hickey playing for Illawarra, their paths will cross again on an NBL stage.

But Williams' connection to Indigenous culture is a story he is still discovering.

Growing up in Sydney, Williams was surrounded by Aboriginal friends and teammates, spending much of his formative years immersed in a community where culture, sport and family went hand in hand.

It wasn't until his teenage years that he discovered he also had Aboriginal ancestry through his mother's side of the family.

Initially, the news came as a surprise to some of his closest mates, but it also sparked a personal journey to better understand his heritage.

More recently, with the help of a cousin from Adelaide who researched the family's history, Williams has begun uncovering a deeper connection to his Worimi and Kamilaroi mobs, tracing his maternal family tree and learning more about the impact of the Stolen Generations on his ancestors, as well as a family link to prominent Aboriginal woman Charlotte Bugg.

"It's something I'm still learning about," Williams told Adelaide36ers.com.

"I'm proud of it and I want to find out more about my culture. At the end of the day, I want to know where my family is from and understand that connection.

"Some people might see you as a Johnny-come-lately, but I'm not doing it for the wrong reasons. I want to do it for myself, for my family legacy, and hopefully spread that further."

That sense of belonging and community has always been central to Williams' basketball story.

He credits the Redfern All Blacks, and in particular two people who helped shape his early years in the game, for giving him the foundation to pursue a career in basketball.

Aunty Bev Coe provided him with the opportunity to step onto the court alongside young players from the local Aboriginal community, while his first basketball coach, Matthew Coe, helped instil the confidence and belief that would carry him forward.

The team developed a strong bond, enjoying considerable success together, and provided an environment in which young players could thrive.

Williams would go on to play in the US college system, most recently playing for the Georgia Southwestern State Hurricanes, where he was named Peach Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year following a dominant defensive campaign.

He also gained NCAA Division I experience with the Sacramento State Hornets men's basketball, competing against some of the top collegiate programs in the country.

Hickey has also gone on to establish himself at the highest level, representing the Boomers and winning an NBL championship with Illawarra.

For Williams, their journeys are proof of the talent that exists within Indigenous communities across Australia. However, he believes basketball needs to do more to identify and develop that talent.

While rugby league has established pathways that connect regional and remote communities with elite opportunities, he feels basketball still has considerable work to do.

"A lot of Aboriginal kids are in rural cities and rural towns all across Australia, and they don't necessarily have the resources to get in front of coaches," Williams said.

"I think NBL clubs need to stay out there and build good connections with these communities because there are always hidden gems.

"It's about giving them a chance. If you give them that opportunity and show them you actually want them to succeed, they'll see they've got something to play for."

Williams believes greater investment, resources and time are needed to ensure talented Indigenous youngsters aren't overlooked simply because they don't have the same access to established basketball pathways.

It is a message that resonates particularly strongly during Indigenous Round, a celebration of culture and contribution, but also an opportunity to consider how the game can create more opportunities for the next generation.

At the 36ers, Williams has also found an important connection in assistant coach Kerry Williams, whose playing career included more than 100 NBL games with the Cairns Taipans and who continues to make a significant contribution to Indigenous basketball.

Having first met Kerry through the Indigenous Basketball Australia All-Stars program, Williams said the coach helped make his transition to Adelaide a comfortable one.

"He's helped me a lot since I've been at the club. He's coached me, taught me a lot and made me feel comfortable coming to Adelaide," Williams said.

"He's not just looking out for me, he's looking out for other Aboriginal kids in the Adelaide community and back in Cairns as well."

Ultimately, Williams hopes his own journey can help inspire others, just as those who came before him inspired him.

"It's quite an honour to be seen as a role model," he said.

"I looked up to people growing up who did big things in sport, and I want to be one of those people that young kids can look at and think, 'I could be that one day'.

"I want to come back to the community and help out as much as I can."

On Saturday night, before the ball is bounced, Williams and Hickey will take a moment to acknowledge where their journeys began.

For two players who once shared a court at the Redfern All Blacks, it will be a fitting reminder that some connections extend well beyond the game.

Tip off on Saturday at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre is at 5:00pm.

Limited tickets are still available online.