Graves started his career at Champe (VA) before heading to Archbishop Carroll (DC) for a season. He left the area for Hudson Catholic (NJ) last year and enjoyed a breakout campaign, averaging 20.4 points per game and picking up Division I offers from the likes of Auburn, LSU, Mississippi, North Carolina State, and Seton Hall, among others.

“It was great, for sure,” Graves said of his year in Jersey. “I can’t do anything but be thankful for the people in New Jersey who helped me get to where I’m at. The summer before, I wasn’t ranked at all and had no offers, and now I’m one of the top 130 players in the country. So it was a great experience for sure, being in a new place and a new environment and also getting better at the same time.”

Now, Graves is part of a new-look St. James Performance Academy squad preparing for its second year in the loaded EYBL Scholastic League under head coach Book Richardson. He’ll be counted on to contribute heavily in a scoring role as the Strivers look to continue the program’s rise.

“I feel like it’s honestly a great league and the competition is great night in and night out,” Graves said. “I feel like I bring a lot of scoring and versatility. I play three or four positions, so just defending the ball, defending the other team’s best player, and also making plays for myself and others is what I bring to this team.”

For Graves, coming home to finish his high school journey in Virginia made complete sense.

“I just feel like it was a perfect story,” Graves added. “Coach Book is a historic coach, and he’s known for getting players to the next level and off into the NBA. And also with it being my hometown, it’s just a win-win situation.”

Another talented uncommitted prospect in the 2027 class, Graves has already made a strong impression at his new home, The St. James Academy. The senior is an aggressive scoring guard with good length and above average athleticism. He is a capable perimeter shot maker with range beyond the arc and has a good feel for the game. Graves brings an intriguing combination of scoring ability, physical tools and versatility to the backcourt.

A microwave scorer, Graves helped turn a two-point halftime deficit against Holy Cross into a 13-point lead entering the fourth quarter Sunday. He was particularly effective inside the arc, attacking the basket, getting to the foul line and knocking down mid-range jumpers when given space. Graves possesses the confidence and shooting touch to change a game once he gets going, and the DMV native did exactly that.

A new addition to St. James Academy, Graves is an aggressive scoring guard with positional size and a good feel for the game. He is a solid shot maker from beyond the arc and can create scoring opportunities in a variety of ways. Graves is an above average athlete who can create his own offense and uses his size and skill effectively on the perimeter.

Graves returns to Virginia for his senior season after spending last year at Hudson Catholic in New Jersey. The talented, strong combo guard is a high scoring perimeter threat with the ability to produce at all three levels. He can create his own offense off the dribble, plays with confidence, and has the ability to put points on the board in a variety of ways.

Ashton Graves Ashton Graves 6'4" | CG The St. James Academy | 2027 State #189 Nation VA is an ultra aggressive downhill attacker who is always in constant pursuit of putting the pressure on the rim, in any way he can. And transition is where Graves sought out a lot of those opportunities— turning forced turnovers as a result of intense defensive pressure into explosive above the rim finishes, sprinting the lanes and getting ahead of the defense for easy finishes at the basket, and even initiating the break off long rebounds before the defense was able to get all the way back for tough in traffic finishes. A part of his game that’s remained pivotal to his long term outlook and been heavily observed over the last several months has been his outside shooting— where throughout this showing he showed some strides in that area of his development, more particularly in his consistency and being a more efficient perimeter shooter off the catch.

The DMV native made his first appearance of the season with AOT in Las Vegas and proved to be a prospect on the rise. Graves averaged nearly 25 points per game during a 3-1 weekend. The rising senior is very difficult for defenders to keep out of the paint and finishes in a variety of ways. He does a good job of getting to the free throw line and keeps defenders honest with his ability to knock down open shots from beyond the arc.

In constant pursuit of the basket with noticeable burst off the bounce, Ashton Graves Ashton Graves 6'4" | CG The St. James Academy | 2027 State #189 Nation VA is an explosive guard who thrives at getting downhill. Graves found ways to put pressure on the rim in more ways than one— initiating the break and pushing the tempo in the open floor, using change of pace and navigating ball screens to deep in the lane, running the lanes in transition and getting ahead of the defense, and even using creativity off the bounce to break slower footed defenders down and finish in traffic at the basket. Countering that rim pressure with more consistent perimeter shooting has been a part of his game that’s seen growth over the last few months and he showcased that as well, stepping into a few in rhythm looks and knocking down outside shots with confidence from three point range.  

Graves is a tireless scorer with great positional size at the lead guard spot and the ability to put points on the board in a variety of ways. Whether in transition or operating in the half-court, he consistently finds opportunities to attack and generate offense. Graves does a nice job getting downhill and drawing contact, leading to frequent trips to the foul line where he adds efficient points to his stat line. Defensively, he displays excellent instincts and timing, routinely jumping passing lanes to collect steals and quickly turning those takeaways into offensive opportunities. His combination of size, scoring ability, and defensive playmaking makes him a valuable two-way guard. With his production and versatility, Graves is a prospect who should be drawing significant attention from both low- and mid-major Division I programs.

Graves is a versatile wing that can score from any spot on the floor. He’s a high motor player that plays with an intensity that sets him apart on the court. His ability to get down hill and finish through contact makes him extremely difficult for opposing defenses to stop. Graves and Hudson Catholic are looking to have a big year this upcoming season.