Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
placeholder article
placeholder article

Basketball Star: Alan Williams

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Julia Graham
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Rachel Miller
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter.

With men’s basketball season gearing up at UCSB, we decided to feature one of the well-known faces of the basketball team. This week’s Campus Celebrity is Alan Williams, or more commonly known around campus as Big Al. Not only does he stand tall at 6’7”, this Phoenix, Arizona native also has a larger than life personality. As a junior starting center on the basketball team, Alan has garnered many awards including 2013 First Team All-Big West, Second Team All-District, and was recently selected to the 2013 Lou Henson Preseason All-America team. Her Campus interviewed Alan and got to know this basketball stud a little bit better.

 

What is your major and why did you choose it?

I am a cultural anthropology major because I really enjoy exploring and learning about different cultures and how they interact with one another.

What made you decide to come to UCSB for basketball? 

I chose to come to Santa Barbara for basketball because of the commitment to greatness the coaches have here and also for the amazing weather in SB.

Tell us about your typical day.

My typical day consists of going to class, taking a little break before going to practice, practice for a couple hours followed by weight lifting as a team, then after weights we get treatment and ice down.

What is your favorite part about being on the basketball team?

My favorite part about being on the team is my teammates. I love those guys.

Which team are you most excited to play this year?

I’m looking forward to playing some really good teams this season…I wouldn’t say there is one team that I want to play most, but I’m really excited about our schedule overall.

How do you balance school and basketball?

Balancing school and basketball is tough, but I do it by using time management skills and by just blocking off time to get some schoolwork done.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration would have to be my parents. They are two strong, intelligent, loving, and hard working people who have instilled those characteristics in me.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In ten years hopefully I’m playing basketball professionally, but if not, I’d like to be doing something sports related.

Thanks for taking some time out of your busy schedule to give us a glimpse into your life as a college basketball player at UCSB! Make sure to come out and support your gauchos at the next home game at the Thunderdome. Best of luck to the team this year, ole!

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar
Julia Graham is a writer for the Her Campus team at UC Santa Barbara. She is a sophomore majoring in Communication and is a member of the Comm Association on campus. She is also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where she actively participates in philanthropies, socials, date parties, and other events. In her free time, she enjoys playing beach volleyball, baking, shopping, and going to sports games. Originally from Santa Clara, California, she has two dogs at home, Teddy and Toby.
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar
Rachel is a senior at UC Santa Barbara and studies Communication and Global Peace and Security. Rachel is from a small, beautiful town in southern California called Palos Verdes. However, Palos Verdes is just one of the many places Rachel has lived. Rachel spent her childhood moving and traveling all over the world, living in places such as Indianapolis, Indiana; Santiago, Chile; Vienna, Austria; and Orlando, Florida. Rachel has found her heart and her home in California, choosing to spend her college years in sunny Santa Barbara. However, Rachel continued her wanderlust when she studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in Fall 2012. At UCSB, Rachel is an immensely dedicated and involved member of her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, where she held the positions of Panhellenic Delegate, Inter-Greek Counselor, Rho Gam, and a member of the Nominating Slate. Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is a passion of Rachel's, as she is their Social Media Coordinator as well as an active and proud member. As a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honors Society, Rachel is able to implement her prowess and affinity for communication and communication-related issues. When Rachel is not writing, participating in Kappa events, or volunteering, you can find her in the gym, on the soccer field, watching Modern Family, or cooking. Rachel's love for sports, food, and writing often times go hand-in-hand, as one may see in her weekly blogs. For the past two summers, Rachel has been freelance writing for the Los Angeles Times, and hopes to continue her career pursuit of journalism after she graduates. Rachel is elated to be a part of Her Campus's fabulous team and loves every moment of it!