WASHINGTON – A former Georgetown basketball star claimed his $1 million Powerball prize Thursday from the D.C. Lottery.
During his one season with the Hoyas, Michael Graham was known as an enforcer who took a swing at a Syracuse player during the Big East Tournament. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated after the Hoyas won the national title in 1984.
But Thursday was all about the lottery for Graham, who was reluctant to talk about his basketball days. He plans to invest part of his winnings into his waste management consulting company and to donate to charity.
Graham says he discovered he had won the second-place prize several days after the March 16 drawing. He contacted the lottery last week.
“I had to get my thoughts together,” he says.
The $1 million ticket, before taxes, was purchased at a D.C. Shell station, 2300 South Dakota Avenue, N.E. Graham matched five numbers from that drawing, the lottery says.
Graham was the first $1 million-winner this year, the lottery says.
WTOP’s John Aaron contributed to this report. Follow @JohnAaronWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.
