Willie Sojourner


Willard Leon Sojourner was an American collegiate and professional basketball player and international coach. He played collegiately at Weber State University and went on to a professional career, winning a championship with the New York Nets and playing overseas. The Italian arena PalaSojourner is named in his honor. Sojorner is known for giving his friend and teammate Julius Erving his famous "Dr. J." nickname. He is the older brother of NBA player Mike Sojourner.

Early life

Willard Leon Sojourner was born on September 10, 1948, to George and Dorothy Sojourner, one of their eleven children.
Sojourner attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he didn't play basketball until his senior year. Until his senior year, Sojourner had concentrated on swimming and track. Eventually, his father and the high school basketball coach both encouraged Willie to give up competitive swimming to concentrate on basketball because of his size. He was a medalist in the backstroke and butterfly in swimming and a talented high jumper in track. Because of his basketball inexperience, Sojourner wasn't highly recruited by colleges.

College career (1968–71)

Recruited to Weber State University by Coach Dick Motta, Sojourner's basketball career at Weber State was record setting. He set Big Sky Conference records in scoring and rebounding, leading the Wildcats to three consecutive Big Sky Conference titles and three straight NCAA Tournament invitations.
He arrived in Ogden, Utah for the 1967-68 season under Coach Motta. Freshmen were not allowed to play NCAA varsity basketball at that time, so Sojourner played the 1967-1968 season with the Wildcat freshman team.
In 1968-1969, as a sophomore, Sojourner averaged 18.9 points and 13.1 rebounds as Weber State finished 27-3 under Coach Phil Johnson, as Dick Motta left Weber to become Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls. The Wildcats captured the Big Sky Conference title and qualified for the 1969 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament, where they defeated Seattle 75-73, behind Sojourner's 22 points and 12 rebounds. They lost to Santa Clara 64-59 in overtime in the West Regional Semi-Final, as Sojourner had 12 points with 18 rebounds. Weber State then defeated New Mexico State in the West Regional 3rd Place game 58-56, as Sojourner had12 points and 11 rebounds.
In 1969-1970, Sojourner led the Wildcats to the Big Sky Conference title, averaging 21.2 points. Weber State lost in the First Round to Long Beach State and Coach Jerry Tarkanian 92-73 in the 1970 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament, with Sojourner having 13 points and 9 rebounds.
In his senior season of 1970-1971, Weber State finished 21-6 and earned their third straight Big Sky Conference Championship, led by Sojourner's 17.8 points and 13.6 rebounds. Again, Weber State was matched up against Long Beach State and Coach Tarkanian, losing 77-66 in the First Round of the 1971 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament. Sojourner had 9 points and 10 rebounds in his final college game.
Overall Sojourner had career totals of 1,563 points and 1,143 rebounds in 81 career games for averages of 19.3 points and 14.1 rebounds. he shot 51.7% from the floor and 72.%1 from the line. His point and rebound totals were Big Sky records at the time. He still ranks second in total rebounds and first in career rebounding average at Weber State, with 14.1 per game.

NCAA Track and Field

A versatile athlete, Sojourner competed in track and field at Weber State. He placed 3rd in the 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, with a high jump of 7'0". In doing so, he became Weber State's first NCAA All-American athlete.

Professional career

Sojourner was selected in the second round of the 1971 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. He was also selected the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association as their 1st Round pick in the 1971 ABA Draft. Sojourner signed with Virginia and played for the ABA Squires in and New York Nets.

Virginia Squires (1971-1973)

As a rookie, Sojourner averaged 6.8 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Squires, playing in all 84 games, alongside teammates Julius Erving and Charlie Scott. Virginia finished 45-39 under Coach Al Bianchi.
In 1972-1973, Sojourner averaged 7.5 points and 5.7 rebounds for the 42-42 Squires. He played alongside Squires rookie George Gervin.

New York Nets (1973-1975)

In a blockbuster trade, with the Squires franchise struggling, on October 20, 1973 Sojourner was traded to the Nets with Julius Erving for George Carter and cash. Sojourner and Erving were roommates on the road, the best man in each other's weddings and Sojourner dubbed Erving with the nickname "Dr. J".
With Erving starring, and Sojourner contributing 5.6 points and 4.7 rebounds, the Nets finished 55-29 and defeated the Squires and Kentucky Colonels in the playoffs. Facing the Utah Stars in the ABA Finals, the Nets won the series 4-1 to capture the 1974 ABA Championship under Coach Kevin Loughery.
In 1974-1975, Sojourner averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 79 games as the Nets finished 58-26. The Nets upset by the Spirts of St. Louis in the playoffs. Sojourner was cut by the Nets after the season.
Overall, In his ABA career Sojourner scored 1968 points with 1488 rebounds in 309 games.
Sojonour's individual ABA highlights include: 6 points in his debut on October 15, 1971 vs. Carolina. He had 25 points vs. the Kentucky Colonels on October 27, 1971; 26 points vs. the San Diego Conquistadors on December 2, 1972; 26 points vs. the Carolina Cougars on January 27, 1974; and 18 vs the Denver Nuggets on February 27. 1975. In his last ABA game, he scored 11 in a playoff loss to the Spirits of St. Louis on 4/15/1975.

Lancaster Red Roses (1975-1976)

Playing for the Lancaster Red Roses of the Continental Basketball Association in 1975-76, Sojourner was the CBA Playoff Most Valuable Player, leading Lancaster to the league title.

Italy (1976-1983)

Sebastiani (1976-1982)

In 1976, American scout Richard Percudani scouted Sojourner and his brother Mike Sojourner for the Italian basketball team AMG Sebastiani Basket Rieti. Attilio Pasquetti and Italo Di Fazi, Sebastiani's team and general managers, initially looked to acquire Mike Sojourner, but he had signed with the Atlanta Hawks. They then spoke to Willie, who signed to play in Italy. Sojourner moved to Rieti, in central Italy, and began play in Lega Basket Serie A.
Thanks to rules which greatly restricted transfers of foreign players, Sojourner remained with Sebastiani for six years, until 1982. In his six seasons playing in Rieti, Sojourner gained the nickname of "uncle Willie." He became the leader of Sebastiani, playing with Cliff Meely, Lee Johnson, Irv Kiffin and Tony Zeno among others. Sebastiani played twice in the Scudetto semifinals and twice in the Korać Cup finals. They won the 1979–80 Korać Cup). Sojourner mentored younger players such as Roberto Brunamonti and Domenico Zampolini.

Perugia (1982-1983)

After leaving the Sebastiani in 1982, Sojourner played one more year in Italy. He joined Perugia's team, playing in the 1982-83 season, before retiring.
Overall, Sojourner scored 4,799 points in Serie A. He is considered to be one of the best American basketball players ever in the Italian league.

Personal

After his Italian retirement, Sojourner returned to the USA.
In 2005, Nuova AMG Sebastiani Basket Rieti offered Sojourner their youth team coaching position. Sojourner was unsure and went to Rieti. When he arrived in Rieti on September 15, 2005 he was welcomed warmly by fans and decided to accept the position.
Sojourner was just over a month into the position when, on night of October 19, 2005, Sojourner was killed in car accident. He was returning to his home near Rieti when, due to rain and high speed, he lost control of his car which crashed into a tree.
His funeral took place inside the Palaloniano, Sebastiani's basketball arena, officiated by the bishop of Rieti Delio Lucarelli. Thousands of mourners attended.
One month after his death, Palaloniano was renamed PalaSojourner in his honor. The November 18, 2005 memorial ceremony was attended by Sojourner's family and friend Julius Erving.

Honors