CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) – Former North Carolina basketball player Will Graves faces misdemeanor drug charges after police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia at a residence owned by coach Roy Williams.
Police in Chapel Hill cited Graves on Dec. 6 with simple marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Team spokesman Steve Kirschner said Friday that Graves was paying rent to stay at the home while working toward his degree and as a part-time video coordinator for the team during the fall semester.
“Certainly he was disappointed this happened,” Kirschner said about Williams.
Chapel Hill Police Lt. Josh Mecimore said Friday police went to the residence after a meter reader reported seeing a possible broken window and thought the home was empty. After arriving there, Mecimore said, police asked to search the residence after detecting the odor of marijuana.
Graves allowed the search and police seized three marijuana blunts, two burnt marijuana blunts, 4.4 grams of marijuana and eight marijuana seeds, according to a police report. Mecimore said police also found a marijuana grinder.
Graves faces a Feb. 3 court date. Mecimore said Graves wasn’t arrested because the charges were misdemeanors.
Graves had a trouble-filled career with the Tar Heels. Williams suspended Graves at midseason during the 2008-09 season for not complying with team standards, sidelining the 6-foot-5 reserve swingman during North Carolina’s run to Williams’ second national championship.
The following year, Graves developed into the team’s third leading scorer at about 10 points per game and its team’s top 3-point shooting threat. But Williams dismissed Graves from the team shortly before the 2010-11 season for violating team rules.
Property tax records for Orange County show Williams and his wife, Wanda, own the property, which has an assessed value of $635,106. Kirschner said Williams has allowed people to stay at the home periodically, including former North Carolina star Lennie Rosenbluth from the 1957 NCAA title team when a family member had an extended hospital stay in Chapel Hill.