Corey’s new home sweet home

By Alison Kinkade

He may be a long way from his native New York roots, but National Basketball League (NBL) player Corey “Homicide” Williams is now calling Docklands home.

Recruited by the Melbourne Tigers in November following its decision to drop import TJ Campbell, the point-guard decided to move straight into Docklands on his friend’s advice.

“I called up my good friend who lives here in Docklands and said ‘sort something out for me because I’m moving to Melbourne’ and I got off the plane and came straight here,” Corey said.

“Docklands is definitely the place to be and the area I need to be in to be close to all the action,” Corey said.

Having spent the last three seasons playing for the Townsville Crocodiles, Corey, who took out the Andrew Gaze Trophy for the NBL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) last season, left Australia at the end of the season after the club opted not to re-sign him.

“I decided to go play in Europe, but then had to return to the States when the team I was with in Athens couldn’t pay me, but then the Tigers weren’t performing well so they called me up,” he said.

Signed to a one-year import contract, the 33-year-old said he could potentially end up playing out his basketball career in Melbourne.

“I probably have another four years in me, maybe more, and if the Tigers like having me and I like being here then I definitely could stay in Docklands a lot longer,” he said.

With a larger than life personality, Corey, who gained the nickname “Homicide” for his reputation for annihilating competition on basketball courts of the streets of New York, says he really enjoys living in Australia.

 “I’m loving it. The people are so friendly and laid-back and Melbourne is a great city. It’s so different to Townsville,” Corey said.

Already accustomed to the great food of St Kilda’s Acland St, Williams is looking forward to testing out what the restaurants of Docklands have to offer.

“I don’t really have to watch my diet too much because I work so hard and train so hard and have a high metabolism, so I am definitely looking forward to checking out all the restaurants down here,” he said.

Well and truly settled into his Village Docklands apartment, Corey believes that Platform 28 may end up being his local.

“That place goes off. I think you will definitely find me there on a Friday or Saturday night,” he said.

With the season ending in April, we wonder how long the star calls Docklands home.