Justin Graham
Encyclopedia
Justin Jaymes Graham is an American professional basketball player for the Bakersfield Jam
of the NBA Development League
. Graham played college basketball
at San Jose State University
.
. They would next play in the same Amateur Athletic Union
team while in high school. At Ripon High School
, Graham was a Division IV all-state selection in 2006 and led his team and league in scoring, assists, blocked shots and steals that year. In the fall of 2005, Graham signed a National Letter of Intent
to play for the San Jose State Spartans
. San Jose State signed him on November 9, 2005.
the 2006-07 season, Graham averaged 2.9 assists
per game and became the first San Jose State freshman to lead the team in assists. His next two seasons, Graham played or started in every game of the season. In the 2008-09 season, Graham was a conference leader in steals and assists: in the WAC, he had the second-most average assists per game and third-most steals. Before Graham's first playing season, coach George Nessman
felt that Graham had "a chance to develop into a major difference-maker." On January 7, 2008, Graham scored on a jumper that would permanently put San Jose State in the lead over Santa Clara
, and San Jose State won 62-59.
In a four-overtime, 102-101 home loss to Boise State
on January 7, 2011, Graham played all 60 minutes and scored 29 points, matching his career scoring high. With 50 seconds remaining in the second half, Graham scored a three-pointer and had San Jose State trailing 72-69; he then scored the tying jumper to force overtime. On February 23, 2011, Graham became the all-time leader in career assists at San Jose State in a 72-70 overtime victory over New Mexico State
. That game was televised nationally on ESPN2
, and New Mexico State won the 2010 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
.
Along with Adrian Oliver, Graham made the WAC all-defense team and was a first team all-WAC pick.
in August 2011. Graham played in two pre-season games. On September 6, Graham scored 11 points in Vanoli's 110-87 win over Scaligera Basket Verona
. However, Vanoli lost the ENERCOM Trophy game on September 12 to Montepaschi Siena, 83-77, and Graham scored 2 points.
The Bakersfield Jam
drafted Graham as the eighth pick in the third round of the 2011 NBA Development League
Draft, 39th overall.
. Born in Turlock, California
, Justin Graham has a younger sister, Jessica, who plays basketball at the University of Idaho
(another Western Athletic Conference
[WAC] school), and their parents divorced when Justin was four. He is also a step-grandson of Neal Walk
, a former center
for the Phoenix Suns
who was the second overall pick of the 1969 NBA Draft
.
Because Graham was diagnosed with vitiligo
, he chooses to grow his hair long to prevent skin cancer.
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
of the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. Graham played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at San Jose State University
San José State Spartans
The San Jose State Spartans is the name of the athletic teams representing San Jose State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division I level...
.
Early life and high school
When Graham was in second grade, he met future San Jose State teammate Adrian OliverAdrian Oliver
Adrian McClinton Oliver is an American professional basketball shooting guard . In college, Oliver played for the University of Washington from 2006 to 2007 and San Jose State University from 2008 to 2011...
. They would next play in the same Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
team while in high school. At Ripon High School
Ripon High School
Ripon High School is a public high school located in Ripon, Wisconsin. The school serves students in grades 9 through 12, and has an enrolment of about 560 students. It is the only high school in the Ripon School District.- Sports :...
, Graham was a Division IV all-state selection in 2006 and led his team and league in scoring, assists, blocked shots and steals that year. In the fall of 2005, Graham signed a National Letter of Intent
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating NCAA colleges and universities in the United States. The NCAA Eligibility Center manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides...
to play for the San Jose State Spartans
San José State Spartans
The San Jose State Spartans is the name of the athletic teams representing San Jose State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division I level...
. San Jose State signed him on November 9, 2005.
College career
After redshirtingRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
the 2006-07 season, Graham averaged 2.9 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
per game and became the first San Jose State freshman to lead the team in assists. His next two seasons, Graham played or started in every game of the season. In the 2008-09 season, Graham was a conference leader in steals and assists: in the WAC, he had the second-most average assists per game and third-most steals. Before Graham's first playing season, coach George Nessman
George Nessman
George Nessman is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at San José State University. Nessman coached at the high school and community college levels before becoming an assistant basketball coach for University of California, Berkeley.-Education and high...
felt that Graham had "a chance to develop into a major difference-maker." On January 7, 2008, Graham scored on a jumper that would permanently put San Jose State in the lead over Santa Clara
Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball
The Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball team represents Santa Clara University, located in Santa Clara, California, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They play their home games at the Leavey Center and are members of the West Coast Conference...
, and San Jose State won 62-59.
In a four-overtime, 102-101 home loss to Boise State
Boise State Broncos men's basketball
The Boise State Broncos men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Mountain West Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was...
on January 7, 2011, Graham played all 60 minutes and scored 29 points, matching his career scoring high. With 50 seconds remaining in the second half, Graham scored a three-pointer and had San Jose State trailing 72-69; he then scored the tying jumper to force overtime. On February 23, 2011, Graham became the all-time leader in career assists at San Jose State in a 72-70 overtime victory over New Mexico State
New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball
The New Mexico State Aggies Basketball team is the basketball team that represents New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Founded in 1904, the Aggies currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference and last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2010...
. That game was televised nationally on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
, and New Mexico State won the 2010 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
2010 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2010 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament was held at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada from March 11th through March 13th, 2010. The winner of the tournament was New Mexico State, who received an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and was crowned the...
.
Along with Adrian Oliver, Graham made the WAC all-defense team and was a first team all-WAC pick.
Professional career
Graham signed with the Italian team Vanoli CremonaGruppo Triboldi Basket
Gruppo Triboldi Basket, also known for sponsorship reasons as Vanoli Soresina or Vanoli Cremona, is an Italian League professional basketball team whose legal domicile is in Soresina but plays its home games in Cremona...
in August 2011. Graham played in two pre-season games. On September 6, Graham scored 11 points in Vanoli's 110-87 win over Scaligera Basket Verona
Scaligera Basket Verona
Scaligera Basket Verona is an Italian basketball club based in Verona, which currently competes in the second-level LegaDue.-History:The "Scaligera" was first formed in Verona in 1951 and in the nineties reached the Italian top league, where played 10 years gaining respect and trophies both in...
. However, Vanoli lost the ENERCOM Trophy game on September 12 to Montepaschi Siena, 83-77, and Graham scored 2 points.
The Bakersfield Jam
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
drafted Graham as the eighth pick in the third round of the 2011 NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
Draft, 39th overall.
Personal life
Both of Graham's parents, Steve Romero and Shari Hernandez, played college basketball at California State University, StanislausCalifornia State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus, also known as Cal State Stanislaus or simply Stan State is a campus in the California State University system which was established in 1957 in Turlock, California. It is also the only campus in the CSU system to offer a bachelor's degree in cognitive studies...
. Born in Turlock, California
Turlock, California
Turlock is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States, part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, Turlock had a population of 80,549, up from 55,810 at the 2000 census, making it the second-largest city in Stanislaus County.-Geography:Turlock lies in the...
, Justin Graham has a younger sister, Jessica, who plays basketball at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
(another Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
[WAC] school), and their parents divorced when Justin was four. He is also a step-grandson of Neal Walk
Neal Walk
Neal Eugene Walk is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a center in the National Basketball Association for seven seasons during the late 1960s and 1970s. Walk played college basketball for the University of Florida, and still remains the Florida Gators' all-time...
, a former center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
who was the second overall pick of the 1969 NBA Draft
1969 NBA Draft
The 1969 NBA Draft was the 23rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 7, 1969 and May 7, 1969 before the 1969–70 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
.
Because Graham was diagnosed with vitiligo
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but research suggests that it may arise from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress,...
, he chooses to grow his hair long to prevent skin cancer.