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'Home sweet home to me': Grant Williams donates $1.5 million to Tennessee

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey09/18/25GrantRamey
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC | Former Tennessee basketball player Grant Williams is seen with Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC | Former Tennessee basketball player Grant Williams is seen with Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football

Former Tennessee Basketball star Grant Williams is donating a $1.5 million gift to the University of Tennessee, the Vols announced on Thursday. The money will be split between men’s basketball, softball and the Haslam College of Business. 

Williams is giving $750,000 to men’s basketball, $250,000 to softball and $500,000 to the business school in the form of endowed scholarships. 

“Rocky Top truly is home sweet home to me,” Williams said a statement on Thursday. “It is a privilege and an honor to be able to give back to the university that did so much for me and helped me become the man I am today.”

Grant Williams was two-time SEC Player of Year, All-American at Tennessee

“Grant’s philanthropic gift,” Tennessee athletic director Danny White said, “is a profound statement about the total student-athlete experience here at the University of Tennessee. His generosity not only supports the sport he played but also benefits our softball program and the University as a whole.

“He has consistently demonstrated leadership in all his endeavors, and we are grateful for his ongoing commitment to giving his all for Tennessee!”

Williams went from a three-star recruit and undersized forward to a two-time SEC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American during his three seasons at Tennessee. 

He finished his career averaging 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists over 104 games, leading the Vols to an SEC regular-season championship in 207-18 and a Sweet Sixteen appearance and a 31-win season in 2018-19.

“I will forever be grateful to Rick Barnes for his mentorship and coaching,” Williams said, “to Karen and Ralph Weekly for their constant support and to my many wonderful professors for their time and care. 

“I’m thrilled to be able to positively impact the next generation of Tennessee students who will learn from such incredible role models.”

Williams averaged 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 31.9 points per game as a junior in 2018-19, helping the Vols to the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 for just the second time in program history and setting a new program record with 19 straight wins.

He averaged 15.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28.8 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2017-18, when the Vols went from 16 win the previous season to a 26-9 record. 

Williams averaged 25.4 minutes per game as a freshman in 2016-17, while also averaging 12.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. 

Grant Williams tore ACL in November in second season with Charlotte Hornets

He was the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round. He has played in 380 games over the last six seasons, averaging 7.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists during time with the Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets.

Williams averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 16 games with the Hornets last season before tearing his ACL last November. 

According to Spotrac.com, Williams has made $37.2 million through 2025 and is scheduled to make $27.9 million over the next two seasons, before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027-28.