Willie Solomon

infobox Euroleague Player


name = Will Solomon
nickname = Willie The King
position = Point guard
Shooting guard
height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2
weight_lbs = 181
team = Toronto Raptors
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1978|7|20
birth_place = Hartford, Connecticut
college = Clemson University
draft = 2nd round, 33rd overall
draft_year = 2001
draft_team = Vancouver Grizzlies
career_start = 2001
career_end =
former_teams = Memphis Grizzlies )
Aris Thessaloniki )
Hapoel Jerusalem )
Efes Pilsen S.K. )
Maccabi Tel Aviv )
Fenerbahçe Ülker )
awards =

William "Willie" James Solomon (born July 20 1978 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Toronto Raptors of the NBA.

Solomon was first noticed at East Hartford High School in East Hartford, Connecticut. He held several records and is in several clubs in their schools basketball program such as "1000 Career Points", "All State", "All Conference", and the only member of the "NBA Draft" club. He went to Clemson where he continued his basketball career.

Solomon declared himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft after his Junior year at Clemson University. He was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the second round thirty-third overall pick. Solomon played for the Grizzlies in the season and averaged 5.2 ppg in 62 games.

After only one year in the NBA Solomon decided to move to Europe and was signed by Aris Thessaloniki in 2003. That year he won the FIBA Europe European Challenge Cup.

After a year in Greece Solomon moved to Israel and played for Hapoel Jerusalem, with whom he won another European title, the ULEB Cup.

For he moved to Turkey and was signed by Efes Pilsen S.K.. He then played for the first time in his career in the Euroleague.

Solomon moved back to Israel the following season and was signed by Maccabi Tel Aviv, who were the European champions the previous two seasons and were close to winning a third consecutive Euroleague title before losing in the final. After this, he returned to İstanbul and joined Fenerbahçe Ülker, that enjoyed a High budget and a Euroleague spot after the Ülker Food Group decided to close their own team and move their entire support of funds and players to Fenerbahçe's basketball team. Solomon also played point guard for the Washington Wizards summer league team in Las Vegas during the NBA's offseason in 2006.

On July 28 2008, Solomon was signed by the Toronto Raptors. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/solomonrelease_.html Raptors Sign Free Agent Will Solomon] ]

Career highlights

* Isreal
** Hapoel Jerusalem
*** European Challenge Cup Champion: 1 (2003)
*** ULEB Cup Champion: 1 (2004)
** Maccabi Tel Aviv
*** Israel League: 1 (2006)
*** Israel Cup Champion: 1 (2006)
* Turkey
** Efes Pilsen SK
*** Turkish Basketball League: 1 (2005)
*** Allstar match player of Turkey: 1 (2005)
** Fenerbahçe
*** Turkish Basketball League: "'(2007, 2008)

References

External links

* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/solomwi01.html NBA stats @ Basketball-Reference.com]
* [http://basketaris.bravehost.com/ BASKET ARIS Unofficial fans site dedicated to ARIS B.C.]
* [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=ulk&pcode=COS Player profile on euroleague.net]
* [http://www.fenerbahce.org/basketbolerkek/detay.asp?ContentID=6509&ContentCategoryID=38 Player profile on fenerbahce.org]
* [http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/solomon_will00.html Player profile on clemsontigers.com]