Laying semiconscious on a curb next to his crumpled motorcycle and an unforgiving light post, Jay Williams saw at least part of his life flash before his eyes after his horrifying accident June 19.

It was the part of Williams' life that inspires him to overcome the severe injuries he suffered that evening.

"The first thing I was thinking about was not whether I would live or die, but that I wanted to play basketball again,'' Williams said. "I didn't want to throw it all away.''

It took Williams 3-1/2 months to feel comfortable enough to discuss the incident. He conducted several phone interviews Monday from the house he's renting in Raleigh, N.C., while rehabbing at Duke's medical facilities.

Williams, 22, remembers the crash.

"I put the bike into second gear and I revved the gas a little, and all of a sudden my back wheel flipped or something and I lost control,'' he said. "I started heading toward a pole and I tried to turn at the last second, but I hit the pole with the left side of my body.

"I remember being on the ground, on the curb. It's weird how the body sets up a natural anesthesia because I couldn't feel anything. Then I blanked out, and I woke up and guys were putting me in an ambulance. Then I blanked out, and I woke up in a hospital. That's when I realized how serious it was. Then it got to the point where I didn't want to die.''