KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee announced Thursday afternoon that Grant Williams is donating $1.5 million to the UT Foundation.
Williams is gifting $1 million to the athletics department, with $750,000 going to the Men’s Basketball Excellence Fund and $250,000 to the My All Unrestricted Fund for Softball. The other $500,000 of the gift will create the Grant Williams Scholarship Endowment within the Haslam College of Business.
“Rocky Top truly is home sweet home to me. 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,” Williams said. “I will forever be grateful to Rick Barnes for his mentorship and coaching, 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.”
One of the greatest players in Tennessee basketball history, Williams was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and helped the Volunteers win the 2017-18 SEC regular season title. The following year, he became the program’s third consensus First Team All-American and was a finalist for both the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award.
Following his illustrious three-year career (2016-19) on Rocky Top, during which he totaled 1,629 points and 678 rebounds, Williams went No. 22 overall to the Boston Celtics in the 2019 NBA Draft. Now a member of his hometown Charlotte Hornets, Williams is entering his seventh year in the NBA.
“Grant’s philanthropic gift is a profound statement about the total student-athlete experience here at the University of Tennessee,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “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!”
Along with his many athletic successes at Tennessee, Williams also excelled off the court. He graduated in just three years with a degree in supply chain management, as well took part in the VOLeaders Academy.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
