The story of Vince Williams Jr. catching on in the NBA isn’t about being the most hyped prospect or dominating from day one. It’s about a second-round pick who dealt with injuries throughout college, spent time bouncing between the NBA and G League, and gradually proved he belonged through defense, versatility, and patience.
Drafted 47th overall in 2022, he wasn’t expected to become a rotation player for a playoff team. But by his second season, he’d earned a multi-year contract and regular minutes for the Memphis Grizzlies. His path shows what happens when talent meets persistence—not overnight success, just steady progress.
Early Life and Childhood
Vincent Terrill Williams Jr. was born August 30, 2000, in Toledo, Ohio. His parents are Charlayne and Vincent Williams, who raised him in a city better known for producing football players than basketball stars.
Toledo sits on Lake Erie in northwestern Ohio, about an hour south of Detroit. It’s a Rust Belt city where work ethic matters more than pedigree—a trait that would define his basketball journey.
Growing up, he gravitated toward basketball despite his city’s football tradition. His parents supported that choice, though the path to professional basketball from Toledo wasn’t obvious or well-traveled.
Education and High School Years
He attended St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo, a Catholic prep school with strong academic standards. Balancing schoolwork with basketball development taught him discipline that would matter later when injuries tested his commitment.
As a junior, he earned First Team All-Ohio honors after averaging 16.0 points and 8.6 rebounds. His senior year, those numbers climbed to 19.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 62 percent from the field.
Those are impressive high school numbers, but he wasn’t ranked among the nation’s elite recruits. He was the 41st-ranked small forward in his class—good enough to play Division I basketball, not good enough for the blue-blood programs that produce lottery picks.
He committed to Virginia Commonwealth University, a program known for defense and player development rather than sending multiple players to the NBA every year.
College Career and Personal Growth
His college career at VCU was derailed repeatedly by injuries. Before his freshman season even started, he tore the labrum in his left shoulder and was sidelined until August 2018. He played through that year, averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds.
Then during the offseason, he tore his right labrum—the other shoulder. Surgery and recovery meant he wasn’t fully cleared until early October 2019. His sophomore year was limited to 21 games due to hand and ankle injuries, averaging just 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds.
Most players would have transferred or given up. He stayed at VCU and kept working. According to the official VCU athletics profile, he majored in Interdisciplinary Studies and mentioned wanting to become a biologist after basketball—showing he thought beyond just the sport.
His junior year, finally healthy, he averaged 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals, earning Third Team All-Atlantic 10 honors. As a senior, he became the team’s leading scorer at 14.1 points per game while adding 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks. He made First Team All-Atlantic 10, recognition for his growth into one of the conference’s best all-around players.
Over four years at VCU, he appeared in 110 games, dealing with constant injuries but never quitting. That resilience caught NBA scouts’ attention more than his statistics did.
Entering the NBA
The Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the 47th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Second-round picks rarely make rosters—most end up overseas or out of professional basketball entirely within a couple years.
He signed a two-way contract July 2, 2022, meaning he’d split time between the Grizzlies and their G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. Two-way contracts are glorified tryouts—the team can evaluate you without committing significant money.
He made his NBA debut October 22, 2022, but played sparingly as a rookie. He appeared in just 15 games total that first season, averaging minimal minutes while spending most of his time in the G League developing his game.
The G League grind isn’t glamorous. Smaller crowds, bus travel, lower pay. But it’s where players prove they can handle professional basketball before earning NBA minutes.
Finding His Role in the League
His breakthrough came during the 2023-24 season when injuries ravaged the Grizzlies roster. Star point guard Ja Morant missed extended time. Other rotation players went down. Suddenly Memphis needed everyone available to contribute.
He appeared in 52 games, starting 33 of them. His numbers jumped to 10.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 combined steals-plus-blocks per game in 27.6 minutes. He shot 37.8 percent from three-point range, proving he could space the floor.
According to Basketball-Reference, he’s earned at least $4,353,001 in NBA career earnings through the 2024-25 season. On January 10, 2024, the Grizzlies converted his two-way deal into a three-year standard contract worth $7.9 million—proof they believed in his development.
What coaches value about him isn’t flashy. He’s 6-foot-6, plays multiple positions, defends hard, rebounds, and doesn’t need the ball to impact games. He’s left-handed, which adds unpredictability on offense. He does the unglamorous work that winning teams need.
Personal Life and Character
Teammates and coaches describe him as a vocal leader despite his young age. He embraced guiding younger players at VCU during his senior year, accepting responsibilities beyond just his own performance.
His Instagram handle is @aplus_vince, though he doesn’t share much personal life content publicly. Most of his posts focus on basketball—game highlights, team moments, training clips.
Beyond basketball, his college aspiration to become a biologist suggests intellectual curiosity outside sports. Whether that’s still a post-basketball plan or just a passing interest from his college years isn’t publicly known.
Family Background
His parents are Charlayne and Vincent Williams. They raised him in Toledo and supported his basketball ambitions despite the long odds of making it professionally from that city.
Beyond their names and Toledo roots, they’ve stayed out of the public eye. He doesn’t discuss family extensively in media interviews, keeping that part of his life private while focusing public attention on his basketball career.
Net Worth and Professional Earnings
His three-year contract signed in January 2024 is worth $7.9 million total. That breaks down to roughly $2.6 million per year, though NBA contracts aren’t always evenly distributed across seasons.
Adding his rookie two-way contract earnings and endorsement opportunities, his estimated net worth is likely in the $2-4 million range as of 2026. That’s a rough estimate—actual figures depend on taxes, agent fees, lifestyle expenses, and investments.
For a second-round pick who spent his rookie year mostly in the G League, reaching multi-millionaire status by age 25 represents significant achievement. Most players drafted where he was selected never earn anywhere close to that amount.
FAQs
Where is Vince Williams Jr. from?
He was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, attending St. John’s Jesuit High School where he earned First Team All-Ohio honors as both a junior and senior.
What team does he play for?
He plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. He was drafted by Memphis with the 47th overall pick in 2022 and has spent his entire NBA career with the organization.
Was he a high draft pick?
No, he was the 47th overall pick in the second round. Most second-round picks don’t establish NBA careers, making his development into a rotation player notable.
What position does he play?
He’s listed as a shooting guard but plays multiple positions. At 6-foot-6, he has the versatility to defend both guard and forward positions, which makes him valuable in Memphis’s system.
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