Will Cherry is a basketball player from the United States who currently plays for Riesen Ludwigsburg of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). During his professional career, Cherry has played for six European teams, two NBA Development League (G-League) teams, and a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The athlete was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year while playing college basketball for the University of Montana in 2012 and 2013.
According to Will, his favorite career moment thus far was his rookie season in Lithuania with Zalgiris Kaunas, one of the EuroLeague’s oldest teams.
Cherry and his team won the Lithuanian Basketball League title for the fourth time in a row.
Cherry is optimistic about the future, having played professionally since 2013 and feeling like he’s in his prime.
The basketball player has enjoyed many challenges and obstacles he faced during his playing career, and he believes they have left an indelible impression on him.
Cherry has gained much knowledge but would not trade the experience for anything.
In this article, we will discuss everything about this basketball player. Let’s look at the quick facts first.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Will Cherry |
| Nickname | Not Available |
| Birth Date | February 8, 1991 |
| Birth Place | Oakland, California |
| Residence | Not Available |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Education | McClymonds (Oakland, California) and Montana (2009–2013) |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Father’s Name | Not Available |
| Mother’s Name | Yvette Martin |
| Siblings | Marsean |
| Age | 33 Years Old |
| Height | 6’1″/1.85 m/185 cm |
| Weight | 80 kg/176 lb. |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Marital Status | Unknown |
| Wife | Vanessa Washington (A parent) |
| Children | 2, Logan Amira and Dylan Aubrea |
| Active since | 2013–Present |
| Teams |
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| Endorsements | Not Available |
| Net Worth | $1.5 Million |
| NBA Draft Pick | 2013/Undrafted |
| Position | Point Guard |
| League | Basketball Bundesliga |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Last Update | March 2024 |
Early Life & Family
Cherry was born in the city of Oakland in the state of California to his father and mother, Yvette Martin.
Yvette gave birth to a basketball player early while she was in her high school. After which, she got busy raising her child and didn’t attend college.
In addition, she raised Cherry and her younger brother as a single mother in a violent neighborhood.
Will’s mother started working at a bus station and is now one of her community’s most respected social workers.
“My mother made sure we had everything we needed at all times. She helped me get into good basketball programs and kept me out of trouble by putting me in a situation where I could be the best person,” the athlete said in an interview.
Well, thanks to this strong lady, we got to see Cherry as an athlete today, and he gives full credit to her.
“Every day, I thank my mother for preventing my brothers and me from engaging in violence. She is a hero, to be sure,” he spoke highly of his mother.
On the other hand, Martin paid no attention to the ill wind. Martin insisted on order and structure in her home. She emphasized faith while also demanding excellence.
She steered her sons toward the positive aspects of the West Oakland neighborhood.
Cherry was only allowed to have a cell phone if he maintained a 3.5 GPA in high school.
Supportive Mother
The professional basketball player was in sixth grade when he approached a teacher who told him that his dream of playing in the NBA was a pipe dream.
After learning about the incident, she drove to the school and confronted the teacher saying, “You don’t tell this child he can’t make it.”
Later, Will’s mother promised to support him in his pursuit of playing professional basketball.
Sticking to her promise, Yvette took him to a nearby recreational center to practice and told him he needed to get serious if he wanted to play at the highest levels.
When Cherry was in high school, she conducted mock interviews with him. She analyzed his demeanor and responses to questions she assumed reporters would pose to him at some point.
Early Career
Cherry attended McClymonds High School in Oakland. For the undefeated (33–0) Warriors, he averaged 12.0 points, 5.0 assists, a league-leading 4.0 steals, and 8.0 rebounds per game as a senior, earning him league and team MVP honors.
Will played 116 games for the Montana Grizzlies, starting in 104, and averaged 12.8 points, 3.4 assists, 2.3 steals, and 3.6 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game.
He was named first-team All-Big Sky Conference three times and Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in 2011–12 and 2012–13.
Moreover, he ranks seventh in the all-time scoring leaderboard in the school’s history with 1,484 points.
Professional Career
Will joined the New Orleans Pelicans for the 2013 NBA Summer League after going undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft.
The Canton Charge of the NBA Development League acquired the athlete on February 13, 2014.
The point guard joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2014 NBA Summer League in July 2014.
Later, he signed with the Toronto Raptors on August 3, 2014. However, the Raptors waived him on October 25, 2014.
Cherry was re-acquired by the Canton Charge on November 2, 2014, and signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers later that day.
The Cavaliers waived the point guard on November 30, 2014, after appearing in eight games and averaging 1.9 points and one assist per game.
Cherry signed a contract with Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania for the remainder of the season on December 7, 2014.
He helped Zalgiris win the LKL championship for the fifth time in a row on June 6, 2015.
Will With Different Teams
Cherry joined the San Antonio Spurs for the 2015 NBA Summer League in July 2015.
He signed with Alba Berlin of Germany for the 2015–16 season on September 1, 2015. In 2016, he won the German Cup with Alba.
Cherry joined Gaziantep Basketbol of the Turkish Basketball Super League in August 2016.
He signed with Croatian club Cedevita Zagreb for the 2017–18 season on July 29, 2017.
The point guard joined the Golden State Warriors on October 8, 2018. But only after three days was he released.
The Warriors’ G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, added him to their roster. He averaged 9.1 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 46 games for the Warriors.
After His Time With The Santa Cruz Warriors
Cherry signed a one-year contract with Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League on April 13, 2019, and later inked another one-year contract extension on July 23, 2019.
After parting ways with Olympiacos on January 15, 2020, he signed with Pallacanestro Reggiana of Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) on January 26, 2020.
Furthermore, he made one appearance for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League in 2021.
The professional basketball player signed with Cluj of the Romanian Liga Națională on September 29, 2021.
Before joining MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Basketball Bundesliga on December 29, 2022, he had signed with Skyliners Frankfurt.
Strength of Cherry
Will Cherry is a player with excellent on-ball defending skills who takes pride in his work. He recorded one of the best steals in the NCAA during his time at Montana.
For most of his career, he played significant minutes while primarily guarding the opposing team’s best player.
The point guard is equally good with his offensive games and has improved passing skills.
He showcased his leadership qualities by leading the Montana Grizzlies to two consecutive NCAA Tournament berths in the Big Sky Conference.
The athlete is extremely quick, both with and without the ball. He is a strong competitor who isn’t afraid of contact.
Awards & Achievements
- Lithuanian League champion (2015)
- Croatian League champion (2018)
- German Cup winner (2016)
- Croatian Cup winner (2018)
- ABA League Supercup winner (2017)
- Croatian Cup MVP (2018)
- 3× First-team All-Big Sky (2011–2013)
- 2× Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2013)
Injury
Will Cherry, a former top defender for Montana and a candidate for conference player of the year, was out for 6-8 weeks after reportedly breaking his right foot in late 2012.
This injury derailed his season and hampered his ability to play at the level he had previously demonstrated.
Cherry was inspired by Damian Lillard, a former Big Sky teammate, who went on to be drafted first overall in the 2012 NBA draft after a productive season in the Big Sky.
As he was already regarded as a Conference Player of the Year and one of the top 100 players in the country, the following year, his goal was to repeat a similar feat in the draft.
Wife & Kids
The professional basketball player is the father of two daughters, the oldest of whom, Logan Amira Cherry, was born on February 14, 2019.
He welcomed his second daughter, Dylan Aubree Cherry, on February 12, 2020.
“It’s been crazy; my oldest child is a character and looks exactly like me,” Cherry said during the 2020 interview.
Cherry has always valued family and community, and he was excited to have another opportunity with an NBA team close to home in the 2018-19 season.
Vanessa Washington is the mother to his children. However, no news suggests that the pair got married, and there is no proof of them being together.
Age, Height & Weight
Born in 1981, the basketball player is 43 years old. The athlete was born under the astrological sign of Aquarius.
In terms of exterior features, he is of average height compared to other NBA players, i.e., 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) and weighs 80 kg (176 pounds).
The African-American has tattoos covering his entire body.
Net Worth
According to different sources, Will Cherry’s net worth is around $1.5 million as of 2024. He primarily earns as a professional basketball player.
During his time with the Cavaliers, he is estimated to have earned around $106k. Besides, he must have made handsome money playing for different foreign league teams.
Controversy
A former Montana guard was arrested in downtown Missoula in 2013, allegedly for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Missoula Police also detained Keron DeShields and Jason Shawn Snyder. DeShields was charged with disorderly conduct, while Snyder was charged with marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia.
The incident happened at 2:04 am on April 27 in a Front Street bar.
According to the Missoulian, local cops responded to a report of a fight between the three men, and Cherry, a three-time All-Big Sky selection, had to be tazed before arresting.
He spent an hour in jail without being charged and has no criminal history. According to Cherry, he was released because there was no reason to arrest him.
“I’m a guy who defends his friends and the players on the team. They are my family, and there’s nothing I won’t do for them.
I’m a big-hearted guy who doesn’t always understand me. I have a soft spot for my friends, and I can’t be blamed for it,” he stated after the incident.
Social Media Presence
Will Cherry is active on different social media platforms. His social feeds feature pictures of his children, family, and himself during games.
You can find him on Instagram under the handle @will_cherry and Twitter @willcherry5.
Instagram: 8,802 followers
Twitter: 3,689 followers
Popularity
Earning several championships in different leagues, Will Cherry has garnered quite a considerable number of fans.
The above graph gives brief information about the popularity of Will Cherry based on Google searches in the United States over a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Will Cherry a good basketball player?
Cherry is recognized as a good basketball player with remarkable skills. In 2013, the two-time Big Sky defensive player of the year finished in the top 10 all-time scorers for the Grizzlies, capping off a stellar career at Montana. Besides, he has won ABA League Supercup, Croatian Cup, German Cup, Croatian League, and Lithuanian League.
