Helena Frye
William Thomas Graves is an American professional basketball player who played college basketball for the University of North Carolina before going on to play professionally in Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, Iceland, Israel, and Portugal. In October 2010, Graves was dismissed from the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team for failing to comply with team rules. He then went on to play professional basketball overseas, with his most recent signing being with FC Porto of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB). In addition to basketball, Graves is also a rapper who goes by the name Willy G.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Thomas Graves |
| Date of Birth | May 15, 1988 |
| High School | James B. Dudley High School, Greensboro, North Carolina |
| College | University of North Carolina |
| High School Career Stats | 25.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 44% 3-point shooting |
| High School Awards | 2006 North Carolina High School Player of the Year, 2006 Most Outstanding Player of the state title game, 2004 and 2005 second-team all-state pick, 2006 N.C. East-West All-Star Game MVP |
| College Career Stats | 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds |
| Professional Career | Akita Northern Happinets (Japan), Maccabi Bazan Haifa (Israel), Keflavík (Iceland), FC Porto (Portugal) |
| Professional Career Stats | 13 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists per game (FC Porto) |
| Other Interests/Career | Rapping under the name Willy G |
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What You'll Learn
Will Graves' career in North Carolina college basketball
William Thomas Graves, born on May 15, 1988, is an American basketball player who played college basketball for the University of North Carolina before going on to play professionally in several countries.
Graves attended James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he demonstrated his talent for basketball. In 2006, he averaged 25.1 points and shot 44% from beyond the arc, leading his team to two state championships. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2006 state title game and North Carolina High School Player of the Year.
Graves played three years of college basketball for the University of North Carolina. In his junior year, he averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds. However, in October 2010, he was dismissed from the team by head coach Roy Williams for failing to comply with team rules. This came as a disappointment to Graves, who considered basketball his whole life.
After his college career, Graves went on to play professionally in Japan, signing with the Akita Northern Happinets in 2011. He then played in several countries, including Argentina, Venezuela, Iceland, Israel, and Portugal. In 2014, he signed with Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild and later joined Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Super League. In 2019, he signed with FC Porto of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol, averaging 13 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
Throughout his career, Graves has faced challenges but has demonstrated resilience. He has also pursued other interests, such as rapping under the name Willy G.
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Will Graves' professional basketball career
William Thomas Graves, born on May 15, 1988, is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina before playing professionally in several countries.
Graves attended James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he excelled at basketball. He averaged 25.1 points and shot 44% from beyond the arc, leading his team to two state championships. He was named North Carolina High School Player of the Year in 2006 and was a highly-touted recruit for the University of North Carolina.
However, Graves' career at North Carolina got off to a rocky start. He was suspended by head coach Roy Williams during his junior year for failing to comply with team rules. Despite this setback, Graves worked hard and averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in his junior year. Unfortunately, his time at North Carolina ended prematurely in October 2010 when he was dismissed from the team for a second time for similar reasons.
After leaving North Carolina, Graves signed with the Akita Northern Happinets of Japan on February 10, 2011, beginning his professional career. He then played in several countries, including Argentina, Venezuela, Iceland, and Israel. On October 6, 2014, Graves signed with Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild, where he had a successful stint. In 2017, he signed with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Super League and later played for Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli National League. However, he parted ways with the team before appearing in an official game.
In February 2019, Graves signed with FC Porto of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB) in Portugal. In 20 games played for Porto, he averaged 13 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, helping them reach the Portuguese League Semifinals. Outside of basketball, Graves is also a rapper who has published songs under the name Willy G.
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Will Graves' career statistics
William Thomas Graves, born on May 15, 1988, is an American professional basketball player. He attended James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he began playing basketball. During his senior year, he averaged 25.1 points and 10.6 rebounds, shooting 44% from beyond the arc. He led his team to two state championships and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2006 state title game. He was also named North Carolina High School Player of the Year in 2006.
Graves played college basketball for the University of North Carolina for three years. In his junior year, he averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds. However, in October 2010, he was dismissed from the team for failing to comply with team rules. Despite this setback, he persevered and began his professional career in Japan, signing with the Akita Northern Happinets on February 10, 2011.
Graves then took his talents to various countries, playing in Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, Iceland, Israel, and Portugal. In 2014, he signed with Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild and had a successful season. This led to him signing a two-year contract with Maccabi Bazan Haifa of the Israeli Super League. On February 27, 2017, he recorded an Israeli League career-high 34 points and eight rebounds in a game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury in April 2017.
After playing three seasons with Maccabi Haifa, Graves signed with Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli National League in August 2018. However, he parted ways with the team before appearing in an official game. In February 2019, he joined FC Porto of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB). In 20 games played for Porto, he averaged 13 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, helping them reach the Portuguese League Semifinals.
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Will Graves' off-court life and interests
William Thomas Graves, born on May 15, 1988, is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for North Carolina and went on to play professionally in several countries. When he is not on the court, Graves has a passion for music and rapping, publishing original songs under the name "Willy G".
Graves' journey with basketball began at James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he averaged an impressive 25.1 points and shot 44% from beyond the arc, leading his team to two state championships. He then went on to play college basketball for the University of North Carolina for three years, averaging 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in his junior year.
However, in October 2010, Graves was dismissed from the University of North Carolina basketball team due to failure to comply with team rules, as stated by head coach Roy Williams. This setback was a significant challenge for Graves, as basketball was his entire life up to that point. Despite the disappointment, he remained resilient and determined to pursue his career in basketball.
Graves went on to play professionally in various countries, including Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, Iceland, Israel, and Portugal. He signed with the Akita Northern Happinets of Japan in 2011, marking the beginning of his international career. In 2014, he joined Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild, showcasing his talent and achieving his best statistical season in Iceland.
While basketball has been a central part of his life, Graves also has interests beyond the sport. He pursued a degree in sociology and graduated in December 2013. Additionally, he has a passion for music and rapping. Adopting the name "Willy G", he has published original rap songs, showcasing his creativity and versatility.
Graves has also expressed his ambition to play in the NBA, stating that he takes responsibility for his actions off the court and is determined to achieve his goals and make his mother, his number one fan, proud.
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Will Graves' dismissal from the North Carolina basketball team
Will Graves, a fifth-year senior, was dismissed from the University of North Carolina basketball team in October 2010. The official reason for his dismissal was a failure to comply with team rules, as announced by head coach Roy Williams. This was not the first time Graves had faced disciplinary issues, as he had been suspended at midseason two years prior for similar reasons.
Graves was a talented player, standing at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 235 pounds. He was a strong three-point shooter, averaging 9.8 to 10 points per game and was the team's third-leading scorer. His long-range shot was a bright spot for the team, which had been struggling with their three-point shooting.
Following his dismissal, Graves pursued a professional basketball career, playing in Argentina and Iceland. He also signed a two-year contract with Maccabi Bazan Haifa of the Israeli Super League. During this time, he also completed his degree in sociology. As of 2020, Graves was signed to Keflavik, a team in Portugal, and he pursued rapping under the name Willy G.
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Frequently asked questions
William Thomas Graves, born on May 15, 1988, is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina before playing professionally in several countries.
Will Graves played college basketball for the University of North Carolina. He then went on to play professionally for the Akita Northern Happinets in Japan, followed by stints in Argentina, Venezuela, Iceland, Israel, and most recently, FC Porto in Portugal.
Will Graves is a small forward. He is 6 feet 6 inches tall and is known for his three-point shooting ability.
In addition to his basketball career, Will Graves is also a rapper who goes by the name Willy G. He has published original songs and has a degree in sociology.
