Player Profile: Will Graves

Brian Barbour on October 27th, 2009 | 5 comments - (Comments are closed)

In preparation for the 2008-09 basketball season, I will be profiling key contributors for the Tar Heels.  Today’s profile looks at RS junior SF  Will Graves

Vitals

Number: 13
Position: SF
Height: 6-6
Weight: 240 lbs
Year: RS Junior
2008-09 Stats: 20 gms, 4.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 27% 3P%
Career Stats:56 gms, 2.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 36% 3P%

What Happened Last Season

Graves came off the bench averaging 11 minutes per game until the middle of the ACC season.  Then, inexplicably at the time, Graves never saw the floor against NC State and again versus Maryland three days later.  Following the Maryland game, UNC  announced that Graves had been suspended for the remainder of the season for what Art Chansky, in his new book Light Blue Reign referred to as a rules violation common to many students at UNC. To this day no one has said what led to the supsension only that is in the past. Before that, Graves played well at times but did not shoot the ball with any great proficiency and was, at times, a defensive liability which is a sure way to curtail your playing time in Roy’s system.

Outlook For This Season

Graves’ importance cannot be underscored enough.  UNC has a gigantic black hole in the offense called “three-point shooting” and it is unclear how that void will be filled.  What we do know is if it cannot be filled to a sufficient level it stands the suck the season in on itself.  Graves, who by all accounts, is a good shooter, could be the shooter UNC needs to compensate for the loss of Ellington-Lawson-Green on the perimeter.  No, he cannot do it all by himself but something in the 40% neighborhood would do a world of good assuming the Heels can come up with a 2nd shooter of near equal caliber. Graves is also looking at a situation similar to Larry Drew. Graves will be emerging from the shadow into the spotlight and the hope is that once he is thrust into a main role without the stars around him crowding his playing time, he will seize the brass ring and step up his game.

Main Concerns

Defense. Which is the same thing I wrote last year about Graves and was nearly tempted to leave the same sentence in place.  Defense has always been a suspect part of Graves’ game and Roy’s major qualification for being a good defender is a player who move his feet to stay in front of the ball and hustles.  Granted it is not a total loss since the shooting aspect, if it is there, will still be useful but it would limit his playing time based on the way Roy handles his personnel.  The other concern is focus.  It is not easy to come back from certain circumstances, especially ones of your own making.  At the same time it could be a motivator and not a distraction which is ideal.

Wish List

40% three-point shooter while becoming an effective scorer.  At 6-6 and 240 lbs, Graves has the potential to take advantage of mismatches with the opposing two guard on the floor by either shooting over them outright or posting them up. Graves also needs to become a reliable rebounder.  When the guards and small forwards rebound well in Roy’s system it pushes the offense on the break more quickly. Overall if Graves can play smart, watch the turnovers and play serviceable defense then he be able to make solid contributions to this team by answering some of the concerns with the perimeter offense.

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Category: 2009-10 Basketball Season, Player Profile, UNC Basketball, Uncategorized

5 comments to Player Profile: Will Graves

• PRGuy

  October 27, 2009 at 5:00 pm

  I think it is important to recruit N.C. talent, as opposed to filling a roster solely with out-of-state players, and Graves certainly fits the bill of the in-state talent that can help out here and there. He had the sweetest stroke during the Late Night w/Roy scrimmage and hope he continues improving.

• scl11

  October 27, 2009 at 5:15 pm

  “Graves’ importance cannot be underscored enough.”

  I couldn’t agree more. Next to Drew’s and/or Stickland’s assit/TO ratio, Graves outside shooting may be the biggest factor in determining whether Carolina has just a good year or a potentially great year.

• keithunc

  October 27, 2009 at 6:31 pm

  I have nothing against this young man but I’m not seeing it. I am not counting on him for anything. I also hope he proves me wrong so you guys can rub it in my face. My fingers are crossed for him.

• Jordan8027

  October 27, 2009 at 11:22 pm

  i agree with keith, and like him i mean well. graves hasn’t proved anything to us, not even when he got minutes did he give us a spark in a meaningful game or come in and knock down shots. in today’s college landscape, people come in and they’ve either got it or they don’t. Heck, when we had the 05 team Noel was a big contributor, hit his 3′s and played great D and had some monster highlight reel plays. Even Reyshawn came in and while he wasnt earning minutes at the 2 or 3 over mccants, jawad, melvin scott and marvin williams, you could tell he had the hunger to prove himself. he came in the game and knocked down 3′s and tried to dunk on people. Not that Reyshawn became a star, but i felt good penciling him in to the starting lineup the following year. so it’s not wise nor is it fair to graves to say we all expect him to be the missing link this year.

  for one, i think we’re fine regardless, because he will make 3′s and be a threat, even if it’s in spot situations, because i believe we will get O from plenty of unexpected places with all the size and athleticism we have.

  lastly, while i don’t expect anything from will graves, i’m cautiously optimistic that with some confidence (and no wayne ellington or danny green to sit behind), he’ll have more of a green light and we can all be pleasantly surprised.

• heeledsoul

  October 28, 2009 at 10:16 pm

  I just can’t get myself around expecting 40%+ 3pt shooting from Will. Wayne shot 41.7% (85 made) last season with Danny hitting 41.8% (77 made). Rashad hit more than 40% each of his 3 years at UNC with his 42.3% (71 made) during his junior year being his best. And Noel significantly improved during his senior year with a 42.4% but just hitting 39 shots. Even the great Wes Miller only went over 40% just during his junior year (44.1%, 64 made).

  Will hit 44.2% during his RS freshman year but that was just 27 made shots while playing 5.2 mpg. With more minutes and more responsibilities to put up points, I hardly doubt Will will be able to post 40%+ but if he does, well, hallelujah!

  I keep thinking Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland are scorers and will both add another offensive wrinkle. And I believe the Wear twins have nice jump shots that could be effective just inside the arc.

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