Troy Williams Returns: Former IU Star Joins Assembly Ball for 2025 TBT Comeback After 15-Month Injury Hiatus
The Assembly Ball roster just got a major boost — and a familiar face — with the announcement that former Indiana University standout Troy Williams is officially joining the team for the 2025 edition of The Basketball Tournament (TBT). The Indiana alumni squad, which will host a regional at Hinkle Fieldhouse from July 19–22, now adds yet another accomplished name to its lineup.
Williams, a 6-foot-7 high-flying forward, will reunite with fellow IU alumni Yogi Ferrell and James Blackmon Jr., forming a trio that Hoosier fans will remember well from the team’s strong NCAA Tournament runs in the mid-2010s. The addition of Williams marks a significant moment for Assembly Ball, not only in terms of roster strength but also as a symbol of perseverance and comeback.
Comeback Season After Injury Setback
After playing with Assembly Ball last year but being sidelined due to injury, Williams has spent the last 15 months recovering and working toward a return to peak form. Now healthy and currently playing professionally for Mazatlán in Mexico, the 30-year-old is looking to make a statement in this year’s TBT.
This return marks a full-circle moment for Williams, who made an immediate impact during his freshman season at Indiana in 2013, starting all 32 games. Over three seasons with the Hoosiers, he averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in his final two years and earned All-Big Ten honors in the process.
From Bloomington to the NBA and Beyond
Williams opted to forgo his final year of eligibility and declared for the 2016 NBA Draft, later joining the Phoenix Suns for Summer League action before signing with the Memphis Grizzlies. He went on to play three seasons in the NBA, spending time with the Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Sacramento Kings.
Since departing the NBA, Williams has taken his game across the globe — playing in Europe, South America, Asia, and now Mexico — showing adaptability, resilience, and a continued love for the game.
Assembly Ball Eyes a Deep TBT Run
As TBT 2025 draws closer, Assembly Ball continues to round out a competitive roster that blends veteran experience with a deep connection to Indiana basketball history. The return of Troy Williams, in particular, will energize fans hoping to see flashes of the high-flying, fast-paced game that made him one of the Hoosiers’ most electrifying players in recent memory.
