Jeremy Sochan, the versatile NBA forward for the San Antonio Spurs, is known for his elite defense, quirky one-handed free throws, and fearless fashion choices.
But behind his on-court flair is a rich family story shaped by his parents, his mom, Aneta Sochan, and his late dad, Ryan Williams.
Their journeys from Poland, Oklahoma, and England helped mold Jeremy into the player and person he is today.
Jeremy Sochan was born on May 20, 2003, in Guymon, Oklahoma. His mother, Aneta Sochan, grew up in Poland and played professional basketball for Polonia Warsaw.
She later moved to the United States to play Division II college basketball at Panhandle State University in Oklahoma.
That’s where she met Ryan Williams, Jeremy’s father, who was a standout on the men’s basketball team.
Aneta and Ryan fell in love, got married, and started their family. Ryan, an athletic wing player, continued his career overseas.
He played for the Bristol Flyers in the UK and was close friends and teammates with Arkadiusz Makowski.
Basketball truly ran in the family blood.
Life took a heartbreaking turn in May 2017 when Ryan Williams died in a car accident at just 34 years old. Jeremy was only 13.
The loss hit hard, but his mother, Aneta, stepped up as his rock.
She soon remarried Wiktor Lipiecki, a UK-based businessman who became Jeremy’s stepfather. The family also grew with a younger half-brother.
Jeremy spent most of his childhood in England with Aneta, Wiktor, and his little brother. He has often spoken about how his mom’s strength keeps him going.
In one press conference, he said,
“It’s a huge deal. It motivates you in some type of way. Your mom, your dad—that’s who brought you up, who made you ‘you.’ It’s always important to have that on the side. For me, it gives me some type of energy, positive energy.”
Via Instagram
Growing up across the pond, Jeremy fell in love with basketball early.
He started with the MK Trojans youth team in Milton Keynes, then moved to Southampton to play for the Solent Kestrels and Itchen College.
At age 10, he watched his idol, Kevin Durant, play in an exhibition game against the Philadelphia 76ers. That moment stuck with him.
In interviews, Jeremy has shared,
“Being not really from America, experiencing these new places is very cool for me. Basketball is in my blood.”
Via cbssports
His parents’ athletic backgrounds clearly fueled his passion.
Jeremy’s talent took him far. In 2020, he joined OrangeAcademy in Germany’s ProB League, marking the start of his professional career.
He later played one season at Baylor University, showcasing his defense and versatility.
On April 15, 2022, he declared for the NBA Draft and was picked ninth overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
He has represented both Poland (through his mom) and England at the junior international level. Now, Jeremy suits up for the Polish national team.
He made his senior debut in EuroBasket 2022 qualifiers and continues to honor his heritage on the global stage.
Jeremy’s family remains his biggest cheerleaders. Aneta, Wiktor, and his brother often travel to watch Spurs games.
Their support gives him that “positive energy” he talks about.
From a small town in Oklahoma to the NBA spotlight, Jeremy Sochan’s parents laid the foundation for his success, one rooted in love, loss, and unbreakable bonds.
Jeremy’s story showed how family shapes us, regardless of the challenges we face. His parents’ legacy lives on every time he steps on the court.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Sochan’s middle name honors his grandfather, Juliusz Sochan, a director at AZS AWF Warsaw and president of the Warsaw Regional Basketball Association.
- On August 24, 2024, Sochan was involved in a car accident in San Antonio.
- Sochan plays for the Poland national basketball team after playing for both the England and Poland teams as a junior.
