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A Clemson Tiger from the Past: Will Solomon

By Tyreese Ingram

Feb 10, 2015; Clemson, SC, USA; A general view of the court prior to the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Clemson Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2015; Clemson, SC, USA; A general view of the court prior to the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Clemson Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s time to look back at another Clemson basketball player from the past. This week’s former player is guard Will Solomon.

In 1998, Will Solomon signed with new Clemson head coach Larry Shyatt, but he was originally recruited by former head coach Rick Barnes who left to coach the Texas Longhorns. The 6’1 Hartford, CT combo guard scored 26.4 points per game for East Hartford High and brought a scorer’s mentality to the Tiger basketball team.

As a freshman in 1998, Solomon scored 6.3 points per game and showed glimpses of what made him such a great scorer on the scholastic level. He started 6 games and had 19 points in his first start against #2 Duke.

His sophomore year was remarkable to say the least. As a starter, he increased his scoring average to 21.1 points which led the ACC. Solomon was also 10th in assists(3.1) and fourth in three point percentage(.372). He scored 43 points against UVA and that single game mark still stands today as the best individual game in Littlejohn Coliseum history. The 1999-2000 season culminated with him being named to the ACC first team. He became the first Clemson basketball player to get that honor since the 1989-90 season when both Elden Campbell and Dale Davis made the team.

Even though he garnered a lot of attention from opposing teams during the 2000-2001 season, Solomon still averaged 19.7 points(fourth in ACC)and had a high of 41 against Georgia Tech. The junior was named second team All-ACC and led Clemson to a shocking win over the number one ranked UNC Tarheels by the score of 75-65. He scored 26 points in the game and UNC coach Matt Doherty said via The New York Times, “Solomon is tough to stop when he gets hot.”

Will Solomon decided to end his college career by declaring for the NBA Draft after the 2000-2001 season. He was selected 32nd in the second round by the Vancouver Grizzlies. After averaging over 14 minutes and 5.3 points per game, Solomon decided to leave the NBA and continue his basketball career in Europe.

He played in Greece, Turkey, and Israel from 2003-2008 and was on several championship teams but the NBA was still on his mind. I asked him why did he sign with the Toronto Raptors in 2008.

Will Solomon representing his Antibes Sharks team on a poster. Photo courtesy of Will Solomon.
Will Solomon representing his Antibes Sharks team on a poster. Photo courtesy of Will Solomon. /

"I went back after several seasons overseas and winning several championships. I wanted to try the NBA once again, since I got drafted in 2000-01. I gave it a shot. I played well, but I still wasn’t happy. I love the game and I put a lot of time in trying to be the best, but I couldn’t show much in the NBA-just flashes. So it was my decision to come back to Europe, where I can play 30 plus minutes, win, take care of my family well, and sign bigger contracts that I never signed in the NBA. I just fell in love with European basketball and became a star in Europe. I just love to play the game either it’s in the NBA or Europe."

While with the Raptors, Solomon started in 9 of 39 games, averaged over 13 minutes and scored 4.6 points per game before being traded to the Sacramento Kings. But yet again, he left the NBA and the Kings to return to Europe. I asked him why would you leave when you were getting playing time and having some success.

"Yes, I know I get the question often but no one knows that I decided to leave the NBA. I asked the team(Sacramento) to release me, so I could come back to Europe and play the game that I love with security for me and my family.  I would do the same thing in another life with no regrets."

Solomon is currently playing with the Antibes Sharks in France. He signed with them in 2013 and currently averages over 13 points per game. In 2015, he won his first championship with the Sharks and the seventh of his European basketball career. Solomon also became a French league All-Star this season.

For Will Solomon playing basketball overseas was better for him and his family and he made the choice to leave the NBA. It may not have been a popular choice but he is happy and life is good.

More tigers: Clemson Football Junior: List of Recruits On Campus

Notable Clemson stat: At one point, he had 52 consecutive double figure scoring games.

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