By JACK LeGWIN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
Justin Gray is one of the fastest rising players in the state of Florida and he is ready to make an impact next year for Texas Tech.
The 6-foot-5 senior from Berkeley Prep (Fla.) is showing he can get the job done in his final year in Tampa, averaging 17.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, leading the Buccaneers to a 20-2 record, with their two losses coming to Lake Highland Prep with Joel Berry and Tampa Prep with sophomore stud Juwan Durham.
According to the Source Hoops 4A Poll for the State of Florida, Berkeley Prep and Gray sit in second place, and are in a great position to make a run in the state playoffs.
“We need to keep playing how we are playing right now,” Gray said. “Team chemistry, sharing the ball, and ultimately winning the state championship, so that’s our goal right now.”
An athletic and smooth player, Gray never looks like he is ever out of control on the court. He is lethal in transition, and can run the team from the point if the need is there. A player that loves to get to the basket, Gray plans on putting in the work over the summer in the weight room, as well as the classroom.
“My plan for this up and coming summer is to get bigger and stronger,” Gray told SNY.tv. “I’m going to head down to Texas Tech right after I graduate around June 1st, so I can get affiliated with the school.”
Gray’s final three schools were Texas Tech, Stanford and Harvard. He says that there was a reason behind his choice to attend the Big 12 school.
“Coach (Tubby) Smith is a legendary coach,” Gray said. “I wanted to major in Kinesiology as well. It was mainly the academics to be honest. Harvard had something in the area that I wanted to study, academics comes first for me, and Texas Tech had exactly what I wanted to study.”
Gray will without a doubt make an immediate impact at the next level, and should get some minutes right away for the Red Raiders.
