Seven countries, one world tour – Williams eyes quadrupleImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Since leaving the University of Augusta in 2019, Deane Williams has played professional domestic basketball in six European countriesByJonty ColmanBBC Sport journalistPublished4 minutes agoA decade ago, Bath-born Deane Williams was just finishing his first year as a freshman at Augusta University, with the dream of forging a professional basketball career.Following four years in Georgia, Williams embarked on a world tour and, after ball-playing stops in Iceland, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, he is back on home soil.Now 29, Williams is one game away from concluding his maiden season with the London Lions with a domestic quadruple under his belt.”It’s been fantastic,” Williams told BBC Sport.”Just being able to have such a great season in front of friends and family, alongside great team-mates, great coaching staff – it’s just been an absolute joy.”We’ve done a three-peat so far, so it’s been an extremely successful season, we’re looking to finish strong on Sunday.”The Lions won the Super League Basketball Championship title with victories in 26 of their 32 regular-season games, finishing 12 points clear at the top.In February, the Lions won the first of their three honours already claimed this season with a 74-68 win over Newcastle Eagles in the final of the SLB Trophy.A month later, they claimed more silverware by beating Manchester Basketball 83-74 to win the SLB Cup.While the league title is wrapped up, the post-season play-offs conclude at the O2 Arena on Sunday, with the Lions facing league runners-up Cheshire Phoenix for a clean sweep of domestic trophies.From Bath to London, via Augusta, Keflavik and NaplesTo most, the journey from Bath to London is just an 115-mile dart up the M4.But for Williams it has been a pilgrimage of well over 10,000 miles, taking him to finish his studies in America and back home to England via multiple stops across Europe.Like many aspiring British basketball players, Williams had to make the tricky decision to move across the Atlantic as a teenager to study for four years in Augusta, a city steeped in sporting tradition more associated with plush golf courses and green jackets.But with the landscape of British domestic basketball, as well as following the offer of a college scholarship, Williams’ move was one of necessity rather than a dream.”If it was up to me, I would have played in the UK for as long as I could,” Williams says.”Nobody really wants to have to flock the nest to try and make a living, when they can do it at home just as good.”But the perks of being back in the UK permanently for the first season since leaving for college mean Williams is able to attend the day-to-day events that 10 years abroad prevented.”You don’t have to miss all the birthdays, you don’t have to miss weddings, you don’t have to miss funerals, all of these sort of occasions that you miss out on,” adds Williams.”[Now], you can be there because you’re already at home.”Super League Basketball play-off FfinalsSunday, 17 May from 13:15 BSTWatch on iPlayerWatch on iPlayer
