| Jon Graham |
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After being slowed by illness early in his first season on the court, Graham made big gains as he emerged as an effective low-post scorer, rebounder and defender over the last half of the 2011-12 season. He started the final 17 games as the 6-8, 240-pounder proved to be a physical presence in the paint with a deft short hook shot and the length to alter shots. The very coachable and enthusiastic Graham will look for his role to continue to increase as he hones his game in his third season in the program.
"Jon Graham worked hard everyday last year, which helped him to put on 30 pounds. He wants to be good, and he is also a good rebounder. I look for him to step up this year.
- Patrick Chambers
2011-12 • FRESHMEN
Graham earned the Most Improved Player Award at the team's annual banquet after playing in 26 games and starting the final 17 of his first season on the court...Saw his production increase in the final 10 games of the year as he averaged 5.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg while shooting 51 percent over the span that saw him twice record a career high point total and once a career high rebound total over a three-game stretch...Went 3-for-3 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the line for a career-high 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in a win over Iowa (2/16)...Hit both ends of a clutch one-and-one with 24 seconds remaining to extend a three-point lead to five...His father, Ernie, had his jersey retired at Maryland on the same night...Scored nine points and grabbed a career-best 10 rebounds in a loss at Wisconsin (2/19)...Equaled a career-high with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in a loss to Northwestern (2/25)...Missed five games after being diagnosed with Mononucleosis (11/28)...Returned to play in all 18 Big Ten conference games...Made his first career start vs. Purdue (1/5)...Had seven boards in an upset of No. 22 Illinois (1/19)...Averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg while playing 17.7 mpg on the year...Led the team with 19 blocks.
2010-11 • REDSHIRT
With three senior starters in the Nittany Lion frontcourt, Graham had the ability to use a redshirt season to pack 20 pounds of muscle onto his strong frame and develop his skills on the court...Graham earned the team's "Unsung Hero" award for his work ethic and attitude during a redshirt season in which he hit the weight room daily on top of regular team practices.
HIGH SCHOOL
A two-time All-Metro selection, Graham averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game in his senior season leading Calvert Hall College High School to a 21-7 record and the Baltimore Catholic League tournament championship with a 46-44 upset of No. 1 seeded Mount St. Joseph in the title game...a four-year varsity player and three-year starter, Graham finished his Calvert Hall career as the program's second all-time leading scorer with 1,670 points...rated as a three star recruit by Scout.com and the No. 40 power forward in the nation...was named MVP of the Benedictine Tournament in Richmond and to the All-Tournament Team of the Gonzaga D.C. Classic as he established himself as one of the most dominant post players in the Baltimore area...the first-team All-BCL player logged 17 double-doubles in his senior year and led Calvert with 18 points in a semi-final win in the BCL tournament... also logged a 16-point, 18-rebound, 10-block triple-double and a 33-point, 15-rebound double-double on the year...averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds a game to earn All-Metro honors as a junior.
PERSONAL
Graham is the son of former Maryland great Ernest Graham (1978-81) who ranks among the top 15 all-time in scoring (1,607) and assists (346) in Terrapin history...Ernest, who helped lead Maryland to an ACC title and NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" berth in 1980, still holds Maryland's single-game scoring record having posted 44 points vs. North Carolina State in 1978...He was a third round draft pick by Philadelphia 76ers in the 1981 NBA Draft and also played internationally...has an older brother, Ernest Graham Jr. (29).
