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Complete Bio in PDF Format
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Overall:
First-team All-ACC, the first Clemson player in 10 years to
make the first team... first Clemson guard in 20 years to make first
team and first sophomore or freshman from Clemson to make first team
in 25 years... also first-team All-District 5 selection by the
NABC... leading scorer in the ACC with 20.9 average, he ranked 16th
in the nation, second among sophomores... just the fourth different
Clemson player in history to lead the ACC in scoring... increased his
scoring average by 14.6 points a game over his freshman year, the
biggest single season jump in ACC history... broke record of +14.5
points a game by Tate Armstrong in 1975-76... ranked as the third
best scoring guard in the nation by Lindy's and the eighth best
shooting guard in the nation by Dick Vitale's preseason magazine...
also led the ACC in three-point goals per game with 3.1, he ranked
18th in the nation in that category... the 3.1 three-point goals per
game set a Clemson record... scored in double figures in every game
last year, only ACC player who can make that claim... nearly became
just the eighth ACC player in last 10 years to have 600 points, 100
rebounds and 100 assists in the same season, he finished five assists
short... his 627 points in 1999-00 tied for the fourth highest total
in Clemson history... his 20.9 scoring average tied for seventh
highest in a season.
In 1999-00:
Had the highest scoring average by a Tiger player since
the 1986-87 season when Horace Grant averaged 21.0 a game for the
season... just the fourth player in Clemson history to average at
least 20 points a game for a season... just the fifth player in Tiger
history to score 600 points in a season... three-time ACC player of
the week, the first Clemson player to win that conference honor three
times in one season... scored 32.44 percent of Clemson's points last
year, highest percentage of a team's points by an ACC player in eight
years... had three consecutive 25-point games between Feb. 6-12,
first Tiger to do that since Butch Zatezalo had a record six straight
in 1968-69... over that three-game span Solomon averaged 29.3 points,
and made 32-56 shots from the field, 16-27 three-point shots and
scored 42.5 percent of Clemson's points in those games against North
Carolina, Wake Forest and Florida State... entered the ACC Tournament
on a hot streak, he had 56 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds over
his last two regular season games... had 33 points against Florida
State on Feb. 12, he made his last six shots from the field and
scored 15 straight points for the Tigers in a four-minute period...
had 26-point performance against North Carolina on Feb. 6, he made
6-7 three-point goals in that game, his best shooting percentage from
long range as a Tiger... followed that with 29 at Wake Forest... had
12 games of at least 25 points, most in the ACC... that included
26-point effort against #4 ranked Duke team... averaged 22.5 points
against the top five Blue Devil team in the regular season... had
career high nine assists and six rebounds in his 26-point scoring
game against Duke... guarded Robert O'Kelley in both of the Wake
Forest games and held him to 7-22 shooting combined... did not get
enough credit for his defense, he held Anthony Grundy (N.C. State) to
3-16 shooting on Feb. 27 in Clemson win... led Clemson in scoring in
win over #21 N.C. State with 15 points, one of 21 times he led
Clemson in scoring last year... averaged 21.3 vs. the ACC and 20.9
overall... had better stats in scoring, rebounding, field goal
shooting and three-point shooting against the league as compared to
non-league games... had 43-point outing against Virginia on January
15 in which he set Littlejohn Coliseum scoring record for a Tiger...
most points by a Clemson player in a single game in almost 30
years... seventh highest scoring game in the nation last year... hit
14-21 from the field, including 8-12 on three-point goals... that
tied Clemson record for three-point goals in a game and was fourth
most points ever scored against Virginia... also had 37 point scoring
game at Penn State, so he had two of the 12 highest scoring games in
Clemson history in 1999-00... a player capable of incredible scoring
bursts, he scored 24 points in last nine minutes of the Penn State
game, he had 26 over the last 12:35 of the Virginia game... had 93 of
Clemson's 189 three-point goals, the second highest single season
total in history... averaged 36 minutes per game, second in the
ACC... had at least one three-point goal in first 20 games last year
and had a 24-game streak over two seasons snapped against Georgia
Tech... that is third longest streak in Clemson history... first
Clemson player in history to wear number-one... had first career
double-double in win over South Carolina, he had 26 points and 11
rebounds... just the third Clemson player in the last 30 years to
lead Clemson in scoring and assists in the same season... Chris
Whitney and Terrell McIntyre are the only other players to do it.
In 1998-99:
Played in 34 of Clemson's 35 games and made six starts
for Larry Shyatt's club... finished the season as the team's fifth
leading scorer at 6.3 ppg... collected 32 steals, third best figure
on the team... averaged 6.9 ppg in ACC contests... helped Clemson
advance to the NIT finals with his 8.2 ppg during the tournament...
played 25 minutes per game during those five games... one of three
Tigers to record over 20 points in a game last season... had six
double-figure scoring games... led Clemson in scoring in three games
(twice against Duke)... in season's final 17 games he had 150 points
for an 8.8 average.
Top Games in 1998-99:
Had 19 points in his first college start, it
came against #2 ranked Duke on Jan. 20... was 8-15 from the field and
also had four rebounds and three assists in his 36 minutes of play...
had scored just four points and was 1-11 from the field in five ACC
games prior to his 19-point outburst... the 19 points were the most
by a Clemson freshman in his first start since Michael Best had 20 in
his first college start against North Carolina in 1985-86... had
outstanding game at Duke, he led the Tigers in scoring with 17
points... had 36 points in two games against Duke, including 15-27
field goal shooting... had four steals against the Blue Devils and
had season best 3-5 three-point shooting... netted seven points in
the Butler win (NIT)... had a solid game in the win over Rutgers
(NIT)... scored 15 points and blocked three shots in 28 minutes...
also 5-6 from the line in the final 2:30 of the game to help preserve
the Clemson win... finished the Georgia (NIT) contest with six
points... had nine points in the overtime loss in the ACC Tournament
to Florida State... all of his points came off 3s and came in a
four-minute span in which he helped the Tigers erase a double-digit
deficit... had 20 points at Georgia Tech, most points by a Clemson
freshman since the 1995-96 season when Terrell McIntyre had 29
against Florida State... dished out seven assists against Maryland,
he led the Tigers in assists in that game... had 12 points against
Chaminade in 22 minutes... had 11 points on 4-7 shooting against
ETSU, he hit 3-4 three point shots in the game... had one of his
better games against Illinois with nine points and four steals...
played in every game but the contest at UNC.
In High School:
Scored 26.4 points per game his senior year at East
Hartford High School... ranked as the 84th best player in the country
coming out of high school according to Athlon Sports... ranked second
in his conference in scoring... also averaged five assists and four
rebounds per game in leading East Hartford to a 19-6 record... had a
season high of 45 points vs. Hartford Public, he also had eight
three-point goals and six assists in that contest that brought the
attention of Division I coaches... played in the Connecticut High
School All-Star game... also a camp all-star at the Eastern
Invitational Top 20... first-team all-state as a junior and a senior
by the Hartford Courant and the New Haven Register... all-conference
for two years... averaged 22 points per game as a junior for team
that won 65 percent of its games.
Personal Information:
Born Willie James Solomon on 7/20/78 in
Hartford, CT... wears a size 12 1/2 shoe... from the same area as
former Tiger Tony Christie, who is from Hartford, CT and Windsor High
School... Christie's success at Clemson had something to do with
Solomon coming to Tigertown... helps his game over the summer in
pickup games in the Hartford area playing against Marcus Camby, Ray
Allen, Tyson Wheeler and Kendrick Moore.
Solomon by the Numbers in 1999-00
1 - Ranking in the ACC in scoring in overall games, in ACC games and
three-point goals per game.
2 - Number of times Solomon scored at least 35 in a game this year,
first Tiger to have two games at 35 or better in 30 years.
3 - Number of times Solomon was chosen ACC Player of the Week, more
than any other player in Clemson history for a single season.
4 - Number of rebounds per game, Solomon averaged, solid total for a guard.
5 - Number of consecutive 20-point scoring games between Dec. 1 and
Dec. 18, longest streak by a Clemson Tiger since Horace Grant in
1986-87.
6 - Number of three-point goals Solomon made in just seven attempts
against North Carolina in his 26-point performance against the Tar
Heels on Feb. 6.
7 - Number of consecutive three-point goals he made in consecutive
games against South Carolina and Winthrop.
8 - Number of three-point goals Solomon made against Virginia on Jan.
15, tying the Clemson record.
9 - Number of assists he had to go with 26 points against 4th ranked
Duke on March 1.
10 - Solomon reached at least 10 points in 30 consecutive games, every
game of the 1999-00 season, the only ACC player to score in double
figures in every game.
11 - Career high number of rebounds he collected in Clemson's win over
state rival South Carolina.
12 - Number of 25 point games this year by Solomon, more than any other
ACC player.
13 - Career scoring average for his 64 games as a Tiger.
14 - Career high number of field goals he scored in 43-point
performance against Virginia on Jan. 15.
15 - Number of consecutive points he scored for Tigers from six-minute
mark to two minute mark in victory over Florida State on Feb. 12.
It was longest consecutive point scored streak on record by a Tiger,
breaking record of 12 straight by Elden Campbell against Oregon State
in 1987-88.
21 - Scoring Average in ACC Games, the first Tiger in 13 years to
average 20 a game against the ACC.
24 - Number of consecutive games he scored at least one three-point
goal, the third longest streak by a Clemson player in history.
32.44 - Percentage of Clemson's points that Solomon scored this year.
Highest percentage of a team's points by an ACC player in eight years.
Will Solomon in the Clemson Single Season Record Book 1999-00:
* 627 points, tied for 4th best in Clemson history
* 3.1 three-point goals/game, best in Clemson history
* 93 three-point goals, 2nd best in Clemson history
* 20.9 points per game, 6th best in Clemson history
* 213 total field goals, 7th best in Clemson history
* 36.0 minutes/game, 6th best in Clemson history
* 1079 minutes played, 8th best in Clemson history
ACC Rankings in 1999-00
* 1st in ACC Player of the Week selections (3)
* 1st in scoring average (20.9)
* 1st in scoring average in ACC games (21.3)
* 1st in three-point goals/game (3.1)
* 1st in 3-point goals/ACC game (3.0)
* 1st in double figure scoring games (30)
* 2nd in minutes/game (36.0)
* 4th in minutes/ACC game (35.6)
* 3rd in 3-point goal percentage (.375)
* 5th in 3-point goal percentage in ACC games (.400)
* 6th in assists/ACC game (3.4)
* 10th in assists/game (3.2)
Clemson Records Held by Solomon
* 3-point goals per game in a season, 3.1
* Points scored in game in Littlejohn Coliseum, 43 vs. Virginia, 1999-00
* Highest perfect season of double-figure scoring games, 30 in 30
games, 1999-00
* 3-point goals in a game, 8 vs. Virginia, 1999-00
* Most consecutive Clemson points scored: 15 vs. Florida State, 1999-00
What they are Saying About Solomon
"He is a courageous player. To put up the numbers with that type of
attention and play not just on the offensive end, but on the
defensive end, and be the target of every coach's defensive game
play, it says a lot for him. He had two really good games against us
last year (1998-99). I knew he was very good. Now he seems even
better."
Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski
"You change defenses. You keep fresh defenders on him. Truth is, he
scores against anybody. He seems to get better as the game moves
along-which is a scary thing."
Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Odom
"Clemson's Will Solomon must make first-team All-ACC. This is my crusade."
Gregg Doyel, Charlotte Observer Columnist
"Will Solomon stepped up and made some huge shots. He really took
off. He can make difficult shots."
Florida State Head Coach Steve Robinson
"We couldn't stop Will Solomon. He is a great player, but we
shouldn't have allowed him to score 43 points. We recruited him, so
we know how he plays. At least we know we are recruiting the right
players."
Virginia Head Coach Pete Gillen
"We had a hard time stopping Solomon. Joseph Forte did a good job on
him, but he still scored 26 points. Solomon is just a handful."
Former North Carolina Coach Bill Guthridge
Dick Vitale's Top Shooting Guards
(From ESPN The Magazine's Preseason Issue) Rk | Player | School | Hgt | Wgt | Cl
| 1. | Joseph Forte | North Carolina | 6-4 | 185 | So.
| 2. | Juan Dixon | Maryland | 6-3 | 152 | Jr.
| 3. | Cory Bradford | Illinois | 6-3 | 200 | Jr.
| 4. | Luke Recker | Iowa | 6-6 | 190 | Jr.
| 5. | Gilbert Arenas | Arizona | 6-3 | 191 | So.
| 6. | Robert O'Kelley | Wake Forest | 6-1 | 187 | Sr.
| 7. | Charlie Bell | Michigan State | 6-3 | 195 | Sr.
| 8. | Will Solomon | Clemson | 6-1 | 195 | Jr.
| 9. | Mike Dunleavy | Duke | 6-7 | 200 | So.
| 10. | Casey Jacobsen | Stanford | 6-6 | 210 | So. | | |||||
| Rk | Player | School | Hgt | Cl.
| 1. | Juan Dixon | Maryland | 6-3 | Jr.
| 2. | Joseph Forte | North Carolina | 6-4 | So.
| 3. | Will Solomon | Clemson | 6-2 | Jr.
| 4. | Monty Mack | UMass | 6-3 | Sr.
| 5. | Charlie Bell | Michigan State | 6-3 | Sr.
| 6. | Donald Hand | Virginia | 5-11 | Sr.
| 7. | Gilbert Arenas | Arizona | 6-4 | So.
| 8. | Jeryl Sasser | SMU | 6-6 | Sr.
| 9. | Cory Bradford | Illinois | 6-3 | Jr.
| 10. | Darius Lane | Seton Hall | 6-4 | Jr. | | ||||
Entering 2000-01
Year GP-GS Min/Avg FG-FGA Pct 3FG-FGA Pct
| FT-FTA Pct OR/Reb/Avg A-T BS-ST Pf-D Pts-Avg
1998-99 | 34-6 662/19.5 73-203 .360 26-85 .306 41-66
.621 12/50/1.5 49-75 17-32 79-3 213-6.3
1999-00 | 30-30 1079/36.0 213-531 .401 93-248 .375
108-153 .706 24/123/4.1 95-125 14-38 85-1
627-20.9
Totals | 64-36 1741/27.2 286-734 .390 119-333 .357
149-219 .680 36/173/2.7 144-200 31-70 164-4
840-13.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Will Solomon Game-By-Game: 1998-99
Date | Opponent | Min | F-Fga | 3-3A | Ft-Fa | Of-Rb | A-T
| B-S | Pf | Pts
| 11-13 | Arkansas-PB | 17 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 1-2 | 1-2
| 0-1 | 3 | 2
| 11-16 | Stetson | 19 | 2-8 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3-2 | 0-0
| 1 | 5
| 11-19 | Western Carolina | 16 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0-0
| 1-1 | 0-2 | 3 | 2
| 11-23 | Michigan | 7 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0
| 1-0 | 1 | 1
| 11-24 | Chaminade | 22 | 3-4 | 2-3 | 4-4 | 0-2 | 1-1
| 1-4 | 2 | 12
| 11-25 | Kansas State | 18 | 2-5 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 3-3
| 1-0 | 1 | 5
| 11-30 | Radford | 16 | 3-5 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1-3 | 1-0
| 1 | 7
| 12-3 | East Tenn. State | 17 | 4-7 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 0-1
| 0-1 | 1-2 | 1 | 11
| 12-12 | UNC Asheville | 11 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-0
| 0-0 | 4 | 0
| 12-16 | at South Carolina | 7 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 2-3
| 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 3
| 12-21 | S.C. State | 23 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-4
| 1-1 | 1 | 2
| 12-26 | Furman | 8 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-0
| 0 | 0
| 12-29 | Illinois | 19 | 2-6 | 1-3 | 4-6 | 1-1 | 1-2
| 0-4 | 5 | 9
| 1-2 | at North Carolina | DNP
| 1-5 | N.C. State | 11 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1
| 0-0 | 2 | 3
| 1-9 | Wake Forest | 6 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1
| 0-0 | 0 | 0
| 1-12 | at Florida State | 12 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0
| 2-0 | 0-0 | 3 | 0
| 1-17 | at Virginia | 10 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 1-2
| 0-0 | 2 | 1
| 1-20 | *Duke | 36 | 8-15 | 2-8 | 1-2 | 0-4 | 3-3 | 0-2
| 3 | 19
| 1-24 | *Maryland | 35 | 2-11 | 0-5 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 7-3
| 0-0 | 3 | 4
| 1-28 | *at Georgia Tech | 36 | 8-16 | 1-4 | 3-3 | 0-4
| 2-7 | 0-2 | 3 | 20
| 2-4 | *North Carolina | 23 | 2-7 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3-1
| 0-1 | 1 | 5
| 2-6 | *at N.C. State | 29 | 1-6 | 0-3 | 7-8 | 0-1 | 0-3
| 1-1 | 3 | 9
| 2-10 | *at Wake Forest | 13 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 2-5
| 0-0 | 5 | 0
| 2-14 | Florida State | 20 | 2-9 | 0-3 | 2-2 | 0-3 | 3-1
| 1-0 | 0 | 6
| 2-17 | Virginia | 28 | 3-7 | 0-2 | 2-3 | 1-3 | 4-4
| 1-1 | 2 | 8
| 2-20 | at Duke | 23 | 7-12 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 0-3 | 1-4
| 3 | 17
| 2-24 | at Maryland | 21 | 2-7 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-2
| 0-1 | 4 | 5
| 2-28 | Georgia Tech | 23 | 3-8 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-1
| 1-2 | 1 | 7
| 3-4 | Florida St. (ACC) | 11 | 3-6 | 3-5 | 0-2 | 2-3
| 1-1 | 0-0 | 5 | 9
| 3-10 | Georgia (NIT) | 32 | 1-9 | 0-2 | 4-6 | 0-3 | 2-3
| 2-2 | 2 | 6
| 3-16 | at Rutgers (NIT) | 28 | 4-8 | 1-3 | 6-8 | 0-2
| 0-4 | 3-1 | 3 | 15
| 3-18 | Butler (NIT) | 26 | 3-6 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1-4
| 0-0 | 3 | 7
| 3-23 | Xavier (NIT) | 22 | 2-6 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 2-2
| 1-0 | 1 | 7
| 3-25 | California (NIT) | 17 | 2-6 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 2-2
| 3-3 | 0-1 | 3 | 6
| Totals | 662 | 73-203 | 26-85 | 41-66 | 12-50 | 49-75 | 17-32
| 79 | 213 | | ||||||||||||||
Will Solomon Game-By-Game: 1999-2000
Date | Opponent | Min | F-Fga | 3-3A | Ft-FA | Of-Rb | A-T
| B-S | PF | Pts
| 11-19 | *East Tenn. St. | 28 | 8-16 | 3-6 | 2-6 | 0-1 | 1-3
| 0-1 | 3 | 21
| 11-21 | *Wofford | 40 | 11-24 | 2-9 | 4-4 | 1-7 | 2-6
| 0-1 | 3 | 28
| 11-26 | *Central Florida | 40 | 6-21 | 1-7 | 2-3 | 1-6
| 5-5 | 1-1 | 1 | 15
| 11-27 | *Wis.-Green Bay | 23 | 5-12 | 2-8 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-4
| 0-0 | 5 | 12
| 11-28 | *Oregon St. | 39 | 4-15 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 2-7 | 3-3
| 0-2 | 3 | 10
| 12-1 | *at Penn State | 40 | 13-27 | 4-9 | 7-10 | 2-5 | 2-5
| 1-3 | 3 | 37
| 12-4 | *Charleston So. | 38 | 8-16 | 6-10 | 5-5 | 0-4 | 4-6
| 3-1 | 1 | 27
| 12-11 | *S.C. State | 39 | 7-26 | 3-12 | 5-6 | 2-4 | 2-1
| 0-2 | 4 | 22
| 12-16 | *South Carolina | 38 | 8-20 | 4-9 | 6-12 | 3-11 | 3-8
| 0-3 | 2 | 26
| 12-18 | *Winthrop | 40 | 7-15 | 5-12 | 3-7 | 1-3 | 3-2
| 0-2 | 2 | 22
| 12-22 | *G. Washington | 33 | 5-16 | 3-10 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 3-2
| 1-0 | 3 | 14
| 12-29 | *Furman | 39 | 8-17 | 4-10 | 7-9 | 0-1 | 5-2 | 2-1
| 1 | 27
| 1-6 | *at North Carolina | 36 | 5-19 | 1-8 | 2-4 | 0-0
| 0-2 | 0-1 | 2 | 13
| 1-9 | *Wake Forest | 36 | 8-19 | 2-8 | 8-9 | 1-2 | 5-2
| 0-0 | 4 | 26
| 1-12 | *at Florida St. | 26 | 4-10 | 2-5 | 3-4 | 1-3 | 3-4
| 0-0 | 3 | 13
| 1-15 | *Virginia | 37 | 14-21 | 8-12 | 7-10 | 0-9 | 3-7
| 1-1 | 4 | 43
| 1-19 | *Appalachian St. | 38 | 2-13 | 2-10 | 6-6 | 0-2
| 4-6 | 1-2 | 3 | 12
| 1-22 | *at Maryland | 37 | 4-14 | 1-4 | 3-3 | 0-4 | 4-6
| 0-1 | 4 | 12
| 1-27 | *N.C. State | 27 | 5-12 | 1-4 | 4-4 | 0-2 | 2-4
| 0-1 | 3 | 15
| 1-29 | *at Duke | 35 | 6-19 | 4-6 | 3-4 | 2-6 | 1-5
| 0-0 | 2 | 19
| 2-2 | *Georgia Tech | 38 | 4-12 | 0-5 | 9-11 | 0-7 | 5-7
| 0-0 | 1 | 17
| 2-6 | *North Carolina | 36 | 10-18 | 6-7 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 1-0
| 0-1 | 2 | 26
| 2-8 | *at Wake Forest | 40 | 9-16 | 4-8 | 7-10 | 1-5 | 1-6
| 0-1 | 4 | 29
| 2-12 | *Florida State | 36 | 13-22 | 6-12 | 1-1 | 0-4 | 4-1
| 0-1 | 2 | 33
| 2-15 | *at Virginia | 39 | 4-13 | 2-7 | 3-6 | 0-1 | 2-7
| 0-3 | 3 | 13
| 2-22 | *Maryland | 36 | 5-15 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 0-5 | 4-1
| 2-1 | 2 | 12
| 2-27 | *at N.C. State | 31 | 5-15 | 3-6 | 0-0 | 1-8 | 6-6
| 0-2 | 3 | 13
| 3-1 | *Duke | 40 | 10-26 | 3-11 | 3-6 | 1-6 | 9-6 | 1-2
| 4 | 26
| 3-4 | *at Georgia Tech | 39 | 10-24 | 4-12 | 6-7 | 2-3
| 4-3 | 1-2 | 2 | 30
| 3-9 | *Duke (ACC) | 35 | 5-18 | 4-9 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 4-5
| 0-2 | 3 | 14
| TOTALS | 1079 | 213-531 | 93-248 | 108-153 | 24-123 | 95-125 | 14-38
| 85 | 627 | | |||||||||||
