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William Joseph Varner, commonly known as Will Varner, was an American-Belgian professional basketball player. Varner was born on August 1, 1960, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and stood at six foot six (198 cm) tall. He played college basketball at the University of Notre Dame, and went on to play for several European clubs, including R.C. Mechelen, with whom he won 6 consecutive Belgian Championships and 3 Belgian Cups. Varner set multiple records during his career, including a career-high 53 points in a game against Limoges on September 27, 1988. Sadly, Varner passed away on July 4, 2018, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism, style, and grace both on and off the court.
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Career highlights
William Joseph Varner, popularly known as Bill Varner, is a former American-Belgian professional basketball player. He played for several European clubs, including R.C. Mechelen, with whom he enjoyed the best era of his career.
Varner attended college at the University of Notre Dame, where he played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball team. After a slow start, he improved in his junior and senior years, averaging 10 and 11.1 points per game, respectively. Following college, Varner played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) during the 1983–84 season, representing the Sarasota Stingers and the Wisconsin Flyers. In 1984, he signed with P.A.O.K. BC and played in the European Cup for two years, making a significant contribution. In the 1984–85 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup, Varner's impressive scoring helped PAOK advance to the second round.
Varner's time with R.C. Mechelen was the pinnacle of his career. He played for the club from 1989 to 1995, winning six consecutive Belgian Championships and three Belgian Cups. In European competitions, his highest average was 24.2 points in the 1991–92 FIBA European League. One of his standout performances came on February 11, 1993, when he scored 39 points against CB Estudiantes. Varner was revered in Mechelen, leaving a lasting legacy with the club.
On September 27, 1988, Varner set a personal record for points scored in a France - Betclic Elite game, tallying 53 points in a thrilling 125-126 road win for Gravelines against Limoges. He also contributed three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in that game, showcasing his all-around ability. On March 23, 1997, he grabbed 14 rebounds in a Spain - Liga Endesa game for Ourense, adding 19 points, two assists, and three steals in a victory over Valladolid. Varner's efficiency of 55 in the aforementioned game against Limoges on September 27, 1988, remains the highest of his career.
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College basketball
William Joseph Varner, commonly known as Bill Varner, is a former college and professional basketball player. Standing at six foot five (or six foot six, according to another source) and weighing 195 lbs, he played as a small forward/power forward.
Varner played college basketball at the University of Notre Dame, with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. After a poor performance in his first two college years, he improved to 10 points per game in his junior season and an 11.1-point average in his senior year.
Following his college career, Varner was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 9th round of the 1983 NBA Draft. He then played for the Sarasota Stingers and Wisconsin Flyers in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) during the 1983-84 season. In 1984, he signed with P.A.O.K. BC and played in the European Cup for two years. Despite his team losing all their group stage games, Varner's individual performance shone through, with high-scoring games against CB Zaragoza and BC Žalgiris.
Varner then went on to play for several European clubs, including R.C. Mechelen, where he had the best era of his career. He played there from 1989 to 1995, winning 6 consecutive Belgian Championships and 3 Belgian Cups. His best European competition average was 24.2 points for the 1991-92 FIBA European League. He also played for Alerta Cantabria in Spain's Liga Endesa, setting multiple career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and efficiency.
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European clubs
William Joseph Varner, commonly known as Bill Varner, is an American-Belgian former professional basketball player. Varner played for several European clubs, including R.C. Mechelen, P.A.O.K. BC, and Olympique Antibes.
Varner's career in European basketball began in 1984 when he signed with P.A.O.K. BC. During the 1984-85 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup, Varner had standout performances, scoring 35 and 31 points in the first and second legs against KK Bosna Royal. Despite PAOK losing all their games in the group stage, Varner stood out with high-scoring performances against CB Zaragoza and BC Žalgiris.
The following season, Varner continued to excel in European competitions. In the 1985-86 FIBA Korać Cup, he led PAOK at the group stage, scoring 35 points against Auxilium Pallacanestro Torino, 30 points against KK Zadar, and 33 points against Olympique Antibes, who would later become his club. Varner's impressive performances earned him the LNB Pro A MVP foreigner player award.
Varner's most successful era came during his time with R.C. Mechelen, where he played from 1989 to 1995. During his six-year stint, he helped the team win 6 consecutive Belgian Championships and 3 Belgian Cups. In European competitions, his best average was 24.2 points for the 1991-92 FIBA European League. Varner became a hero in Mechelen, leaving an indelible mark on the club's history.
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Career statistics
William Joseph Varner, the American-Belgian former professional basketball player, had a stellar career with several European clubs. Standing at six feet five inches tall, he played as a small forward/power forward.
Varner's college basketball career at the University of Notre Dame started slowly, with poor performances in his first two years. However, he improved in his junior year, averaging 10 points per game, and in his senior year, he averaged 11.1 points per game. After college, Varner played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) during the 1983-84 season with the Sarasota Stingers and Wisconsin Flyers.
In 1984, he signed with P.A.O.K. BC and played in the European Cup for two years, making a significant contribution. In the 1984-85 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup second round, Varner's performance was outstanding as PAOK eliminated KK Bosna Royal. He scored 35 points in the first leg and 31 in the second. Although PAOK lost all their group stage games, Varner stood out with high-scoring performances against CB Zaragoza and BC Žalgiris.
Varner then moved to R.C. Mechelen, where he played from 1989 to 1995, winning 6 consecutive Belgian Championships and 3 Belgian Cups. He had some of his best performances in European competitions, averaging 24.2 points in the 1991-92 FIBA European League and scoring 39 points against CB Estudiantes in 1993.
Varner also played for Gravelines in France, setting a career-high in points on September 27, 1988, with 53 points in a game against Limoges. He had other impressive performances with Gravelines, including a career-high in efficiency (55) in a win against Limoges and a career-tie in steals (5) in a game against ASVEL.
In Spain's Liga Endesa, Varner played for Alerta Cantabria and set multiple career records. On March 23, 1997, he grabbed 14 rebounds in a game against Valladolid, the highest of his career. He also tied his career-high in blocks with 1 block against Real Madrid on January 12, 2002. On September 27, 1988, he tied his career-high in assists in a game.
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Personal life
William Joseph Varner, the American-Belgian former professional basketball player, was born on August 1, 1960, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, USA. Standing at six foot five (nearly two metres tall), he played as a small forward/power forward.
Varner played college basketball at the University of Notre Dame, with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. After a poor performance in his first two college years, he improved in his junior and senior seasons, averaging 10 and 11.1 points per game, respectively.
Varner's professional career began when he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 9th round of the 1983 NBA Draft. During the 1983–84 season, he played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Sarasota Stingers and Wisconsin Flyers. In 1984, he signed with P.A.O.K. BC and played in the European Cup for two years. Despite his team losing all their games in the group stage, Varner shone with impressive performances, including a high score of 36 points against CB Zaragoza.
Varner then played for R.C. Mechelen from 1989 to 1995, winning 6 consecutive Belgian Championships and 3 Belgian Cups. He had a career-high 53 points in a game for Gravelines against Limoges in 1988, also achieving 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the same game. He set another career-high in rebounds in 1997, grabbing 14 rebounds in a game for Ourense against Valladolid.
In his personal life, not much information is publicly available. However, Varner's career and achievements on the court speak for themselves.
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Frequently asked questions
A: William Joseph Varner.
A: 1 August 1960, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
A: 6 ft 5 inches (198 cm).
A: University of Notre Dame.
A: His time with R.C. Mechelen from 1989 to 1995, where he won 6 consecutive Belgian Championships and 3 Belgian Cups.
