Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 24, 1995 TAG: 9504250049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``One of the other schools, Fordham, had been keeping me up to date with what was going on with the Atlantic 10,'' Ray said. ``I wanted to play at the highest level possible.''
Ray picked the Hokies over Fordham and The Citadel, although he waited almost 10 days after the national letter-of-intent date before putting his signature on the form.
``The Citadel had been with me since the summer and it was hard to say I wasn't coming,'' Ray said. ``It was right after Christmas that I heard from Virginia Tech.''
Ray, primarily a post player as a junior, averaged 23.1 points and 15.7 rebounds as a senior, when he moved away from the basket. He also averaged 5.8 assists and made 34 3-pointers.
``We even played him some at the point,'' said Will Gage, Ray's coach at Harnett Central High School, located 20 miles south of Raleigh. ``He's most comfortable at the two or three [shooting guard or small forward], but he's so strong he could play a little four [power forward].''
Ray made all-conference in both of his seasons on the varsity and was Triangle Conference player of the year as a senior. He had high games of 35 points and 28 rebounds.
In his final game, a playoff loss to Ragsdale High School of Jamestown, Ray had 33 points and 20 rebounds. It was one of three ``20-20'' games he had as a senior.
``I feel my freshman year at Tech will be a little bit of a learning experience, but I would hope that I can get a good amount of playing time,'' Ray said. ``I think they will find I'm a hard worker.''
Ray, student body president and a North Carolina scholar, is the first player to sign with the Hokies this year. Tech may add a post player if a second scholarship becomes available.
by CNB