Raitis Grafs
Encyclopedia
Raitis Grafs is a Latvian professional basketball center. He is a member of the Latvia national basketball team
.
More than 20 years ago now in kindergarten, a tall boy named Raitis met a smaller one named Kristaps and they became fast friends. Since then, the two (Raitis Grafs and Kristaps Valters
) have grown to be best friends and teammates on the Latvia national basketball team
. As a teenager, Grafs was regarded as one of the best prospects in Europe averaging 13.8 points and 10.5 rebounds at the 1998 U18 European Championship. He posted similar numbers (11.9 ppg and11.0 rpg) at the 1999 World Junior Championship during which he was voted a First Team All-Star. At 16 years 5 months, Grafs became the youngest Latvian National Team member. Unfortunately, during four years at Valparaiso University
(NCAA), Grafs did not improve his skills much and so far his first three seasons after returning to Europe have been less than impressive. This year, as he returned to his hometown club ASK Riga, he performed well (10.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg in Baltic league). Grafs is not athletic enough to become a star but he can be a solid back-up center and give his team a good 10–15 minutes per game.
Latvia national basketball team
The Latvian national basketball team is the basketball side that represents Latvia in international competitions.-EuroBasket 1935:The Latvians won the first European basketball championship, the EuroBasket 1935 held by the International Basketball Federation's FIBA Europe continental federation...
.
More than 20 years ago now in kindergarten, a tall boy named Raitis met a smaller one named Kristaps and they became fast friends. Since then, the two (Raitis Grafs and Kristaps Valters
Kristaps Valters
Kristaps Valters is a Latvian professional basketball guard, who plays for Unicaja Málaga. He is also a member of the Latvian national basketball team. His father is a former Soviet basketball star, Valdis Valters, and his brother, Sandis Valters, plays professional basketball too.- Club career...
) have grown to be best friends and teammates on the Latvia national basketball team
Latvia national basketball team
The Latvian national basketball team is the basketball side that represents Latvia in international competitions.-EuroBasket 1935:The Latvians won the first European basketball championship, the EuroBasket 1935 held by the International Basketball Federation's FIBA Europe continental federation...
. As a teenager, Grafs was regarded as one of the best prospects in Europe averaging 13.8 points and 10.5 rebounds at the 1998 U18 European Championship. He posted similar numbers (11.9 ppg and11.0 rpg) at the 1999 World Junior Championship during which he was voted a First Team All-Star. At 16 years 5 months, Grafs became the youngest Latvian National Team member. Unfortunately, during four years at Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
(NCAA), Grafs did not improve his skills much and so far his first three seasons after returning to Europe have been less than impressive. This year, as he returned to his hometown club ASK Riga, he performed well (10.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg in Baltic league). Grafs is not athletic enough to become a star but he can be a solid back-up center and give his team a good 10–15 minutes per game.