A graduate of Cherokee Vocational High School in 1966, Bill was a three sport athelete playing football, basketball, and baseball. Bill was selected as All District, All State, and All-Amercian his senior year in high school. He signed and played basketball at Auburn University and was inducted into the Auburn Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.

He holds the record for most points scored in an Alabama High School State Basketball Tournament game (52 points).