Ernie Graham Baltimore Basketball Legend | Lake Clifton & Dunbar High Schools | University of Maryland
(BALTIMORE – December 21, 2025) – Ernie Graham stands as one of the greatest basketball talents Baltimore has ever produced—a towering figure whose journey from the playgrounds of East Baltimore to the rafters of the University of Maryland embodies both the heights of athletic excellence and the power of redemption.
Growing up in the North Avenue/Greenmount Avenue corridor as the second-oldest of five children, Graham found his calling on the basketball court at age 12, playing in the CYO program at St. Ann’s Catholic Church and at the legendary Cecil-Kirk Recreation Center under coach Anthony “Dudie” Lewis. His rare combination of size, skill, and ball-handling ability made him an instant mismatch—too quick for big men, too powerful for guards.
At Lake Clifton High School, Graham teamed with his brother Kevin to win back-to-back city championships before redistricting sent him to rival Dunbar for his senior year. Under coach Bob Wade, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged an astounding 27 points and 22 rebounds per game, delivering Wade his first championship and helping establish Dunbar’s foundation as a national basketball powerhouse. His dominance inspired a young Muggsy Bogues, who would watch Graham play at the Lafayette Recreation Center and become a huge fan.
Graham’s brilliance continued at the University of Maryland, where he set the single-game scoring record with 44 points in just 25 minutes of play in 1978—a record that still stands. He earned ACC All-Tournament honors in consecutive years, won an ACC regular season title, and played in three NCAA Tournaments. On February 16, 2012, his #25 jersey was honored in the rafters of the Comcast Center, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest Terrapins ever.
Though drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, Graham played 13 years of professional basketball internationally. When drugs derailed his promising career, he made the courageous choice to turn his life around. Today, Graham devotes his time and energy touring the Baltimore City school system, sharing his story with unflinching honesty to inspire youth to make better choices and live drug-free lives.
Ernie Graham’s legacy transcends statistics and championships. He represents Baltimore’s basketball royalty, a cautionary tale transformed into a redemption story, and a living testament to the power of second chances and the importance of giving back to the community that shaped him.
