Jake Kelley: Hoosier Point Guard

Tom Williamson has coached basketball more than 40 years with the last 37 being on the high school level. During his coaching career, he has been fortunate to have coached two state championship teams in Arizona. Additionally, numerous players who he coached have progressed through the college and professional ranks. The most notable of these players was Mike Bibby from Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix. After being named the player of the year in the state, Mike played at the University of Arizona winning a NCAA championship in 1997, and in 1998 was the second player drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Tom is currently coaching at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, which has also produced many college players as well.

Originally from Indiana and an Indiana State alum, he brought his love of basketball to the desert with him as he began his career coaching at the middle school level. He was inspired to write this book, the first in a series, after reading the Chip Hilton sports collection written by the late Clair Bee while still in elementary school. Tom admits he had a tough time putting down those books, thus creating his lifelong love of reading. Tom’s goal in writing is to not only provide an entertaining story line based loosely on his son Jake, but to encourage proper fundamentals and provide ground rules for beginning and even high school players which he has garnered from his many years of coaching. Ultimately, Tom would be delighted if readers of all levels of age and ability could glean the same degree of excitement he first experienced when he discovered the Chip Hilton sports series.