Justin Gray (basketball)

Justin Gray

File:BBD-PB 1551 cropped.JPG
No. 1 – Tsmoki-Minsk
Position	Guard
League	Belarusian Premier League VTB United League EuroChallenge
Personal information
Born	(1984-03-31) March 31, 1984 Raleigh, North Carolina
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school	West Charlotte (Charlotte, North Carolina) Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
College	Wake Forest (2002–2006)
NBA draft	2006 / Undrafted
Playing career	2006–present
Career history
2006–2007	Verviers-Pepinster
2007–2008	Belfius Mons-Hainaut
2008–2009	ČEZ Nymburk
2009–2010	Turów Zgorzelec
2010–2011	PAOK
2011	Donetsk
2011	Guangzhou
2011–2012	Skyliners Frankfurt
2012	Kavala
2012–2013	Poitiers Basket 86
2013	Pertevniyal S.K.
2013–2014	Homenetmen Beirut
2014	Rilski Sportist
2014–2015	Apollon Limassol
2015–present	Tsmoki-Minsk

Justin Gray (born March 31, 1984) is a professional basketball player who currently plays for Tsmoki-Minsk of the Belarusian Premier League. He got known for his proficient college career at Wake Forest University and who's been fluctuating from team to team in Europe.

High school

After leaving West Charlotte High School, Justin played his last year of high school basketball at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, a prep basketball program that has produced 22 NBA players such as stars Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. He was recruited heavily across the nation because of his success at Oak Hill, where he put up 16.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.6 steals per game, but he eventually committed to playing his basketball at Wake Forest University.

College career

Gray created a stir of excitement his freshman year (2002–2003) at Wake, he scored 10 points and dished out 5 assists in his debut game against Yale, in which Wake Forest easily was victorious. Shooting mostly outside shots, Gray's field goal percentage was below 40% but even still he averaged 12.7 points per game. His performance was strong enough to be recognized by Sporting News on their 4th team All-American Freshman, while he made first team ACC Freshman and received ACC Freshman of the week one time during the 02-03 season. In the summer before Gray's sophomore year, point guard Chris Paul arrived. The Chris Paul and Justin Gray combo then became one of the best back courts in the ACC. With the assistance of Paul's prevailing passing skills Justin averaged 17.0 points per game, this time shooting 41% from the field and 38% from the 3 point line. ACC fans were convinced both players would end up in the National Basketball Association as good as they were playing together. However Wake's fans were disappointed when they were defeated by Saint Joseph's in an intense Sweet 16 match up, in which Gray scored 23 points. Gray did finish his sophomore season earning AP First Team All-ACC honors. During the 2004–05 season Justin's role on the team was reduced because sophomore Chris Paul was taking more of the load on his own, however they were upset by West Virginia in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament. Paul then left for the NBA to play for the New Orleans Hornets, leaving his roommate Gray with a poor team to work with during the 2005–06 season. Gray silently had his best season yet, averaging 18.2 points a game. Gray left Wake Forest with his name all in the record books, including 7th on the career scoring list and 2nd in 3pt field goals made.

Professional career

Gray went overseas to play pro basketball in Europe, first with Velviers Perpinster and later with CEZ Nymburke. CEZ Nymburke won the Czech Republic Cup in 2008 and Justin gray scored 15.5 points per game during that season. After that Gray went to play for PGE Turow. He played the 2011-12 season for the Skyliners Frankfurt in Germany, where he is averaging 19 points and nearly 4 assists. In Frankfurt he will be remembered for "THE SHOT" the game winning 3pt shot he made against Würzburg. In August 2012 he signed in France with Poitiers Basket 86. In March 2013 signed with Pertevniyal Istanbul in Turkey. In March 2014, Gray signed with Bulgarian team Rilski Sportist for the rest of the season. In November 2014, he signed with Apollon Limassol of Cyprus. On February 20, 2015, he signed with Tsmoki-Minsk of the Belarusian Premier League.

External links

• Eurobasket.com Profile

• Justin Gray Hits A Buzzer Beater From Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 As The Fraport Skyliners Shock The S. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg 80-78
• Justin Gray signs with Tsmoki Minsk