PhDeac
PM a mod to cement your internet status forever
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2011
- Messages
- 155,334
- Reaction score
- 22,338
Figure we should go ahead and start an ongoing thread to follow his progress. Some people may not be following the coaching carousel thread either.
https://catamountsports.com/news/20...ustin-gray-as-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
https://catamountsports.com/news/20...ustin-gray-as-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
"This search process afforded me the opportunity to speak with a number of people with recommendations for who our next men's basketball head coach should be. When people spoke about Justin Gray, they simply said 'he's going to be a great head coach one day,'" said Gary. "The universal respect for him as a leader, mentor, and a basketball mind provided me with no doubt in his ability to be successful here at Western Carolina University."
Gray comes to Cullowhee after serving the past two seasons on Pat Kelsey's staff at Winthrop University and he had initially made the move to the College of Charleston with the staff upon Kelsey's hiring in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Before his time on staff in Rock Hill, Gray served as the Director of Basketball Development within the Deacon Club at his alma mater, Wake Forest, which came on the heels of a successful 12-year professional playing career overseas.
A three-time All-ACC selection in his playing career at Wake Forest (2002-06), Gray left Winston-Salem as one of the program's most prolific 3-point shooter. He scored 1,946 career points over 120 career games for the Demon Deacons, finishing his career ranked eighth in program history in scoring while average 16.2 points per game. Gray continues to rank second on Wake's career 3-pointers made chart with 319 treys. He additionally holds three of the top six spots among the Deacons' single-season 3-pointers made list.
In his sophomore season, Gray and eventual first-round NBA draft pick Chris Paul teamed up to become one of the best backcourts in the ACC as Gray averaged 17.0 ppg on his way to All-ACC First Team honors. In 2002-03, Gray played a role in helping the Demon Deacons to an ACC Regular Season Championship with a 13-3 league mark.
His collegiate career plaudits also include being named to the ACC All-Freshman team, as well as a three-time USBWA All-District Team and two-time NABC All-District Team selection.