“Where Are They Now?”

In 1975, Bill Willoughby made a historic leap that would forever alter the landscape of professional basketball. Foregoing the traditional path of playing in college, he became one of the first players to be drafted straight out of high school from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey.

Selected by the Atlanta Hawks, Willoughby’s decision to jump directly into the NBA spotlight at such a young age set a precedent for future generations, inspiring countless young athletes to dream big and chase their goals without hesitation.

Willoughby played for several NBA teams, including the Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and the New Jersey Nets.

Perhaps one of his most memorable moments came during the 1981 playoffs when he famously blocked a shot by the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a testament to his tenacity and skill.

I sat down with this New Jersey legend and trailblazer to discuss his journey and his current work. 

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Englewood, NJ

Talk about some of your biggest influences growing up.

My uncle, Kenny Peterkin, was a four-sport athlete. He attended Dwight Morrow High School and graduated in 1965. I watched him play at Dwight Morrow High School, the best team in the area. My sister would take me to all the games.

Also, I would visit my family in Harlem, New York, often, and there, I learned about the “Last Poets,” which also impacted my life immensely. I would listen to and memorize the words in their songs; they opened my eyes to racism and the challenges we faced in this country as a person of color. 

When and where did the love for basketball begin?

It began with my cousin Claude Mitchell on my mother’s side. We played in leagues together in the 5th & 6th grades. He would take me to play with the older guys, and by the time I got to 6th grade, I was averaging 20 points per game.

Mr. Brown was also another influence. He ran the recreation department in Englewood, New Jersey, and coached a team I played on; by the 2nd year, we were winning all the tournaments. 

Were there other sports that you gravitated towards growing up?

I played baseball first, but I did not love it. However, I did develop my hand-eye coordination while playing baseball.

Basketball was my passion, so I gave up baseball by the 8th grade. I was a good baseball player; I could hit and catch. I grew from 5’11 to 6’4 going into my freshman year in high school. 

In 1975, during your senior year of high school, you decided to declare for the NBA, becoming one of the first-ever high school players to do so. Why did you declare for the draft, and did you feel you were ready looking back?

Going into my senior year, I was a pre-season first-team high school all-American. The year before Moses Malone attended the famous 5-Star camp,  Mr. Garfunkel said I was the best player he had ever seen. I played several positions, from guard to center.

I declared for the 1975 NBA Draft because I could play for pay and travel, and being one of the first to come out of high school, I played the late Darryl Dawkins, and I had a huge role in my decision. l declare hardship and present ourrdship.” I agreed to be a second-round draft pick before the draft. I did not know that the Atla case called “Atlanta Hawks would draft me, who had never seen my play in person. I was ready to start my professional career.

You were the 1st pick of the 2nd round by the Atlanta Hawks in the 75″draft. Discuss your feelings about being drafted and some challenges you would face in the NBA.

After the draft, I first went to McKay Park in my hometown of Englewood, NJ, where people congratulated me. Then, I traveled to Harlem, NY, to the Rucker, where Bob McCollum and some of the other greats congratulated me as well.

I was one of the few New Jersey players at that time to be invited to play at the Rucker along with a guy named Charlie Brown (former Jersey City State/NJCU legendary head coach). I also played with the great Connie Hawkins, among others.

The major challenges I discovered immediately when entering the NBA were traveling, training camp, handling my finances, and partying. Dealing with the crowd and learning how to react was another challenge as well. As an 18-year-old, I was green and was not educated on these pitfalls. But I had fun and learned a lot of hard lessons about life playing in the NBA at that time.

You have seen and been a part of many decades of collegiate and professional basketball; which decade was the most impactful to you and why?

The 1960s with Wilt Chamberlain was impactful. Even when he lost, he was unstoppable. The Celtics dominated that era, but Wilt did not have the best team around him. During that time, my uncle took me to meet and watch the greats like Jimmy Waker (Jalen Rose’s father) of the Detroit Pistons as a kid whom he knew. So, this era had the most impact on me. 

You attended and played at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey. Talk about that experience and its impact on you. 

When I entered the 9th grade, my classes were in different buildings, different from junior high school. I had to adjust quickly. If you were late for class, the teachers would not let you in, and you were marked absent. Fortunately, I had older classmates and teammates to help guide me and who I looked up to at the time. They gave me the foundation and inspired me to make it in basketball and get a scholarship with discipline and commitment. I was not thinking about the NBA as a 9th grader; my focus was getting a basketball scholarship to pay for my education. 

What was your most memorable moment playing in the NBA?

The NBA finals in 1980-81 against Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. Was memorable. We lost in 6 games, but my coach, Del Harrison, told me I got defensive freedom. I was blocking everything around the basket. That freedom on defense helped my confidence on the offense, and I scored from all three levels during the series. I became a starter the next season for the Rockets, and I would love to have been more involved offensively that season, but I enjoyed the experience and made the most of it.

Many may not know you went to college after your career and received a degree from Fairleigh Dickson University. How did that accomplishment compare to other achievements in your life?

Receiving my degree allowed me to get a job in the school system. I have a passion for education and teaching the youth. It was a great accomplishment and helped my transition and contribution to society. 

Since your career ended, what are some of the things you have been doing or involved with?

I’ve done a lot of speaking engagements over the years, working, developing players, and giving my testimony. I’ve spoken at the NBA rookie symposiums and, back then, the ABCD camp (Sonny Vaccaro), sharing my story. I am grateful for my journey, and being able to tell my story is a blessing.