Will Graves re-signs with Maccabi Haifa

The Maccabi Hunter Haifa professional basketball team of the Israeli Basketball Super League announced today they have re-signed forward Will Graves through the 2016-17 season. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Will is a fan favorite, and epitomizes everything we look for in a Maccabi Haifa player,” said Maccabi Hunter Haifa team owner Jeff Rosen. “No matter the outcome, he always makes time for our fans with his captivating smile.”

“Will was a major contributor to our success last season,” said Maccabi Hunter Haifa head coach Offer Rahimi. “He brings veteran leadership, toughness and he is a versatile player which is an asset for the team we are assembling.”

Graves, 28, appeared in 27 regular season contests (19 starts) during the 2015-16 season and averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 27.6 minutes per game. In 5 playoffs games against eventual Israeli league champion Maccabi Rishon Lezion, Graves averaged 15.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 33.8 minutes.
“I’m excited to be coming back for my third season with Maccabi Haifa,” said Graves. “The fans and the organization have embraced me to truly make Haifa feel like home.”

The 6-foot-6 forward tallied an Israeli league career-high 24 points in back-to-back regular season contests against Ironi Nahariya on December 12, 2015 and Hapoel Eilat on December 27, 2015.

During the 2014-15 season, Graves played in 21 contests for Maccabi Haifa and averaged 13.0 points while shooting 41.8 percent (46-of-110) from three-point range, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.8 minutes.

Prior to Haifa, Graves began the 2014-15 season in Iceland’s top division for Keflavik, appearing in 10 games and averaged 22.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists, while shooting 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from beyond the arc in 31.1 minutes per game.

In 2012, Graves guided Marinos de Anzoátegui to a championship in Venezuela’s top division and averaged 9.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11 games played. In three seasons in Argentina’s top division, he was awarded the 2012 All-Star Game Slam Dunk Winner and reached the semifinals for Libertad Sunchales in 2012-13, appearing in 25 games and posted impressive numbers with 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26.3 minutes.
A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Graves played his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina from 2007-10, reaching the NCAA Final Four during the 2007-08 season.