Ayrton Oneill
Will Graves, born on May 15, 1988, is an American professional basketball player who last played for FC Porto of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB). He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina before turning pro in February 2011. After being dismissed from the UNC basketball team in October 2010, Graves went on to play in Japan, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, Iceland, Israel, and Portugal. In addition to his basketball career, Graves is also a rapper who publishes songs under the name Willy G.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Thomas Graves |
| Date of Birth | May 15, 1988 |
| Height | 6 feet 5 inches |
| Position | Shooting Guard / Small Forward |
| College | University of North Carolina |
| College Statistics | 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds (junior year) |
| Professional Teams | Akita Northern Happinets (Japan), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Keflavík (Iceland), Maccabi Haifa (Israel), Hapoel Haifa (Israel), FC Porto (Portugal), Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus - Division A) |
| Career Highlights | North Carolina High School Player of the Year (2006), Israeli League career-high 34 points (2017) |
| Off-Court Activities | Rapping (recording name: Willy G) |
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What You'll Learn
Will Graves' career in Japan
After being dismissed from the University of North Carolina basketball team in October 2010, William Thomas Graves, born on May 15, 1988, turned pro in February 2011. Japan was one of his first stops, along with Uruguay, Venezuela, and Argentina. On February 10, 2011, he signed with the Akita Northern Happinets of Japan and started his professional career.
Graves played college basketball for three years at the University of North Carolina, where he averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in his junior year. He attended James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he averaged 25.1 points and shot 44 percent from beyond the arc, leading the team to two state championships.
In 2013, however, Graves injured his knee and had to make another decision about his future. He decided to return to school and complete his degree at Chapel Hill. He also worked as a video coordinator for the team. After graduating and rehabilitating his knee, Graves resumed his professional basketball career, playing in Argentina and Iceland before signing with Maccabi Bazan Haifa of the Israeli Super League.
Graves had a successful season in Israel, recording a career-high 34 points in a game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. However, he suffered a season-ending injury in another match against the same team. He then had brief stints with different teams in Israel and Portugal before signing with FC Porto of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB) in February 2019. In 20 games for Porto, he averaged 13 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, helping the team reach the Portuguese League Semifinals.
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Will Graves' misdemeanors
Will Graves, born William Thomas Graves, is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina before his professional career, which has seen him play in Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, Iceland, Israel, Portugal, and Cyprus.
Graves was dismissed from the University of North Carolina basketball team in October 2010. He had a troubled career with the North Carolina Tar Heels, with coach Roy Williams suspending him during the 2008-09 season for failing to comply with team standards. He was dismissed by Williams shortly before the 2010-11 season for violating team rules.
In December 2013, Graves faced misdemeanor drug charges when police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia at a residence owned by Williams. Graves was renting the property while working towards his degree and as a part-time video coordinator for the team. He apologized for his actions and the negative attention he had brought to Williams, the school, and his family and friends.
Since his drug charges, Graves has continued his basketball career, playing in several countries and signing with various teams. He has also pursued his passion for rap music under the name Willy G.
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Will Graves' career in Israel
After playing college basketball for the University of North Carolina, William Thomas Graves played basketball professionally in several countries, including Israel.
Graves signed with the Icelandic team Keflavík in October 2014, and in December 2014, he joined the Israeli team Maccabi Haifa for the rest of the season. In his second season with Maccabi Haifa, Graves helped the team reach the 2016 Israeli League Playoffs as the third seed. On February 27, 2017, he recorded an Israeli League career-high 34 points in a game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, on April 20, 2017, Graves suffered a season-ending injury in a match against the same team.
Graves signed a one-year contract extension with Maccabi Haifa in August 2017, but he parted ways with the team in November 2017 after playing three seasons with them. The following year, on August 8, 2018, he signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli National League. However, he left the team in October 2018 before appearing in an official game.
In addition to his basketball career, Graves is also a rapper who has published original songs under the recording name Willy G.
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Will Graves' college basketball career
William Thomas Graves, born on May 15, 1988, is an American professional basketball player. Standing at six feet five inches tall, Graves plays as a shooting guard or small forward. He played college basketball for three years at the University of North Carolina, where he averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in his junior year.
Graves' college basketball career was marked by both successes and setbacks. During the 2008-09 season, he was suspended midway through for not complying with team standards. However, the following year, he developed into the team's third-leading scorer, averaging around 10 points per game and becoming their top 3-point shooting threat. Unfortunately, Graves was dismissed from the team shortly before the 2010-11 season due to violations of team rules.
After his departure from the University of North Carolina, Graves turned to professional basketball. He signed with the Akita Northern Happinets in Japan in February 2011, marking the beginning of his journey across various international leagues. He played in several countries, including Japan, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, and Iceland. In 2013, Graves suffered a knee injury, which led him to return to school and complete his degree at the University of North Carolina.
Following his recovery and graduation, Graves resumed his professional basketball career. He returned to Argentina for a third season and then ventured to Iceland, signing with Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild in October 2014. His outstanding performance in Iceland earned him a two-year contract with Maccabi Bazan Haifa of the Israeli Super League. During his time in Israel, Graves recorded a career-high 34 points in a game against Maccabi Tel Aviv in February 2017. However, he also suffered a season-ending injury in April of the same year.
Graves continued his career in Israel until November 2017, when he parted ways with Haifa. He then signed with Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli National League in August 2018 but left before appearing in an official game. In February 2019, he joined the Portuguese team FC Porto, helping them reach the Portuguese League Semifinals. Graves' most recent stint was with Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus - Division A.
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Will Graves' career in Iceland
After playing in Japan, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Argentina, Will Graves took his talent to Iceland. On October 6, 2014, the American basketball player signed with Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild. This was his third season in Argentina and his first in Iceland.
Graves had a successful 2014 season in Iceland, which helped him take control of his career and motivated him to achieve his goals. He dedicated his performance to his mother, his number one fan, who has always been there for him.
After his stint in Iceland, Graves signed a two-year contract with Maccabi Bazan Haifa of the Israeli Super League. On February 27, 2017, he recorded a career-high 34 points in an Israeli League game, along with eight rebounds. Unfortunately, on April 20, 2017, he suffered a season-ending injury in a match against the same team, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Graves then had a short stint with Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli National League, but he parted ways with the team before appearing in an official game. He then signed with the Portuguese team FC Porto in February 2019 for the rest of the season. In 20 games played for Porto, he averaged 13 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Graves is a six-foot-five shooting guard/small forward.
Will Graves played college basketball for the University of North Carolina.
Will Graves was dismissed from the UNC basketball team in October 2010 for violating team rules. He then played basketball overseas before returning to UNC to finish his degree in 2013.
Will Graves has played for teams in Japan, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, Iceland, Israel, Cyprus, and Portugal.
Will Graves is a rapper who publishes songs under the name Willy G.
