The 2023-24 season will mark Nikki Graves' second season as an Assistant Coach at Saint Augustine’s University under the leadership of Head Coach, Ebony Tanner.
Graves primary responsibilities include recruiting, scouting opponents and developing the guards.
Prior to joining the Falcon family, Graves was the Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Durham Academy. During her tenure at Durham Academy, Graves compiled a record of 41-29 and finished in the top 3 of the conference each year. Her last season (21-22) at Durham Academy, the school saw its best finish in 8 years. In each year of her tenure, Graves had several players make the All-Conference team and placed one player on the All-State team. Several players from the Graves tenure are currently playing collegiately.
Prior to coaching at Durham Academy, Graves was the Director and Head Coach for the Team Felton Girls AAU program. Under her leadership, Team Felton expanded from 1 team to 6 teams ranging from 4th grade-11th grade. Team Felton quickly grew into a program to be reckoned with. The team had a top 2 finish at UAA Jr. Nationals and had several D-1 commits in each year of its existence. Graves coached the 2024 Team Felton National Team and several of those players have already committed to playing D-1 basketball. The Team Felton program was the only Under Armour sponsored team in the state of North Carolina. Several of the triangle’s top prospects in the class of 2025, 26’ and 27’ have played for Graves and the Team Felton program.
Graves was a top prospect in the State of North Carolina. She was a 1,000-point scorer in High School and in college. Graves played her High School Basketball at Northern Nash under the legendary, Grover Battle. Graves Finished her High School career with only 5 losses during scholastic years. Graves is recognized as one of the top 50 players (male or female) to have played in Nash County. After high school, Graves went on to play at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Graves had a stellar career at UNCC, she scored 1,183 points and finished in the top 10 in steals and assists. After college, Graves had tryouts for the WNBA (Charlotte Sting and Detroit Shock). Due to the WNBA having a lockout, Graves opted to pursue a career in youth development.
Nikki Graves is married to Michael Graves. Michael has also coached and still mentors several men’s/women’s players from his coaching days with BTR and Team Felton. Together, they have two children. Nikolas Graves (20) is currently a college basketball player at Charlotte and McKenzie Graves (17), who is currently a D-1 recruit in basketball.
