Taj Gray
Encyclopedia
Taj Gray was a basketball
player for the University of Oklahoma
.
and as a senior led his team to the Kansas Class 6A state title, earning tournament MVP honors. He was also named Kansas High School Player of the Year after averaging 20.9 points and 15.5 rebounds per game during his senior season.
, where he was named second-team NJCAA
All American as a freshman and first-team All American as a sophomore, finishing runner-up in the NJCAA Player of the Year balloting. Averaging 18.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.3 block per game, he led Redlands to a 35-2 overall record and a national runner-up finish. In addition, he led the NJCAA Tournament with 12.3 rebounds per game and was named to the all-tourney team.
instead of signing with Arkansas, Kansas, Texas A&M
and Texas Tech
. In his first year at OU, the Sooners
went 25-8, finished as the Big 12 co-champions and advanced to the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament
. Gray averaged team-highs of 14.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while posting a league second-best 12 double-doubles. Gray was named a first-team All-Big 12 selection by league coaches and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Gray was named named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year before the start of his senior season and averaged 14.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per games which were all team highs. He was named a first-team All-Big 12 pick by Sports Illustrated
and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
. He was subsequently invited to play for the Sacramento Kings
' summer league team, but was not signed to a contract.
On August 10, 2006 Gray announced that he would play for Cholet Basket
ball, an A League team in the Ligue Nationale de Basketball
, the top men's French
professional basketball league.
One year later, after a very good season in Cholet, he announced that he would play for Paris Basket Racing
for one year.
Gray signed on to the French team Chorale Roanne
for the 2008/2009 season where his averaging 22ppg 11.2rpg 3.2blks. One year later, he signed on CB Murcia
, to play in the LEB Oro
, the Spanish second league.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player for the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
.
High school career
Gray attended Wichita High School EastWichita High School East
Wichita High School East, known locally as East, is a public, co-educational secondary school located near the center of Wichita, Kansas With a student population of 2,200, it is the largest high school in the state. Originally known as Wichita High School, East was the first of eight traditional...
and as a senior led his team to the Kansas Class 6A state title, earning tournament MVP honors. He was also named Kansas High School Player of the Year after averaging 20.9 points and 15.5 rebounds per game during his senior season.
Junior College
Gray started his collegiate basketball career at Redlands Community CollegeRedlands Community College
Redlands Community College is a community college located in El Reno, Oklahoma. Student enrollment is approximately 2,200 per semester.-History:...
, where he was named second-team NJCAA
National Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
All American as a freshman and first-team All American as a sophomore, finishing runner-up in the NJCAA Player of the Year balloting. Averaging 18.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.3 block per game, he led Redlands to a 35-2 overall record and a national runner-up finish. In addition, he led the NJCAA Tournament with 12.3 rebounds per game and was named to the all-tourney team.
Oklahoma
A sought after junior college recruit, Gray transferred to the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
instead of signing with Arkansas, Kansas, Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball
The Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team represents Texas A&M University in NCAA Division I college basketball. The Aggies play home games at Reed Arena, a 12,500-capacity arena in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A&M University....
and Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team represents Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition The team is currently coached by Billy Gillispie. Prior to Gillispie being named coach, the coach was Pat Knight who succeeded his father, Hall of Famer Bob...
. In his first year at OU, the Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
went 25-8, finished as the Big 12 co-champions and advanced to the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
. Gray averaged team-highs of 14.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while posting a league second-best 12 double-doubles. Gray was named a first-team All-Big 12 selection by league coaches and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Gray was named named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year before the start of his senior season and averaged 14.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per games which were all team highs. He was named a first-team All-Big 12 pick by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
Professional career
Although he was projected to be a second-round draft pick, Gray was not selected in the 2006 NBA Draft2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
. He was subsequently invited to play for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
' summer league team, but was not signed to a contract.
On August 10, 2006 Gray announced that he would play for Cholet Basket
Cholet Basket
Cholet Basket is a professional basketball club that is based in Cholet, France. The club plays in the French Pro A League. Their home arena is La Meilleraie.- Establishment :...
ball, an A League team in the Ligue Nationale de Basketball
Ligue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
, the top men's French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
professional basketball league.
One year later, after a very good season in Cholet, he announced that he would play for Paris Basket Racing
Paris Basket Racing
Paris Basket Racing, or PBR, is a now-defunct French professional basketball club from Paris. It was founded in the year 1922 as the basketball section of the sports club Racing Club de Paris. The team took the name "Paris Basket Racing" in 2000....
for one year.
Gray signed on to the French team Chorale Roanne
Chorale Roanne Basket
Chorale Roanne Basket is a professional basketball club that is based in Roanne, France. The club plays in the Pro A. Their coach is Jean-Denys Choulet. Their home arena is Halle André Vacheresse...
for the 2008/2009 season where his averaging 22ppg 11.2rpg 3.2blks. One year later, he signed on CB Murcia
CB Murcia
Club Baloncesto Murcia, S.A.D., also known as UCAM Murcia by sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball team based in Murcia, Region of Murcia, Spain. The team plays in ACB...
, to play in the LEB Oro
Liga Española de Baloncesto
Liga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
, the Spanish second league.