Benson Williams Quits Titans; Roster Reduced to 10 Players

Benson Williams, a 6-foot 7-inch senior walk-on player, has quit the Cal State Fullerton basketball team, reducing the squad to 10 players.

Williams, whose 2.7-point average in 9 games last season made him the Titans’ top returning scorer by average, left the team last week after Coach John Sneed denied his request to be placed on scholarship.

“The last word I had was he wanted a scholarship,” Sneed said. “I haven’t seen him since.”

Sneed said Tuesday he would not allow Williams to return.

Williams scored 27 points in the Titans’ intrasquad scrimmage, but did not score in 4 minutes of play in an exhibition loss to Czechoslovakia. He was not expected to contribute heavily because of a knee injury that limits his mobility, making him a defensive liability.

Sneed said he had planned to put Williams on some financial aid next semester, but he objected to Williams’ demand.

Williams’ departure leaves Fullerton with nine healthy players. Brent Calvin, a senior forward who is recovering from a knee injury, is practicing at about half-speed, Sneed said. Sneed said he does not plan to hold tryouts to fill out the roster.

“I’ve got all I need right now,” Sneed said. “I’ve got 10 warriors. We’ve gotten rid of the deserters, now bring on the war.”

Fullerton opens its season Thursday against Utah at Salt Lake City.

Williams is the third player to quit the team and the fourth player to leave the program since practice began Oct. 15.

Forward William Allen quit before George McQuarn’s resignation as coach Nov. 3. Forward Michael Brown, who had been ill with mononucleosis much of the preseason, quit shortly after Sneed replaced McQuarn. Terry Nelson, a freshman who was ineligible this season under Proposition 48, the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. academic legislation, recently decided to leave Fullerton at the end of the semester.