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Tampa subregional
Mixing aggression with confidence, reserve Justin Gray can be counted on to make key plays for Wake Forest.
By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 18, 2003
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Some freshmen might be embarrassed or overwhelmed by comparisons to one of his school's all-time greatest players, but turning red or ashen is not for Wake Forest's Justin Gray.
The dizzyingly quick-footed freshman guard doesn't mind hearing that his tenacious, cocksure style reminds folks of Randolph Childress, star of the 1995 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. "Sometimes, I see that (same) fight and competitiveness," Gray said.
Who can't?
Gray is the guy who fractured his jaw in a collision with Duke's Dahntay Jones on Jan. 12, had surgery the next day and lost 19 pounds while living on milkshakes until his jaw was unwired. After missing eight games, he returned sooner than expected for a Feb. 13 showdown against the Blue Devils. Fit with a protective mask, he showed no trepidation and little rust, scoring 18 in a 94-80 double-overtime win. Gray is the guy who hit a shot-clock beating 3-pointer to help the Demon Deacons top Virginia Feb. 23, keeping his team on track to win its first ACC regular-season title in 41 years. "When he makes mistakes, they're almost always aggressive mistakes," coach Skip Prosser said. "I'll live with that. ... I'd rather have a guy who plays with a cat burglar-type intestinal fortitude than somebody who's sheepish."
Though watching him is a bit nerve-racking for Prosser, Gray shows few nerves. At least since he pulled on the Wake Forest uniform for the first time in an exhibition game.
"Just coming from what I came from, playing in West Charlotte in front of like 500 people -- actually, when I played at Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, we played in front of a couple thousand -- but when you put on this jersey you know you represent this school and this conference, one of the best conferences in the country," Gray said. "That was a big thing for me, but I'm getting used to it.
"My dad told me, 'Never be scared.' My mom and uncles told me, 'Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something.' That's the big thing for this team. ... People said we were going to be sixth or seventh in the league and Coach told us from Day 1, 'Don't believe that. You can be as good as you want to be.' "
Gray also is the guy who, after starting the first 10 games of the season, put his own goals second to team goals by accepting his role as key reserve.
The 6-2, 185-pound -- he has regained his lost weight the past few weeks -- combination guard averaged 13.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in his past 10 games. Overall, the member of the ACC's all-freshman team averages 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists entering Friday's NCAA Tournament opener against East Tennessee State at the St. Pete Times Forum.
"I don't think he likes it, but that's okay," Prosser said. "I couldn't play and I didn't like it. And he can play. But he sublimates that because he understands that's what's best for Wake Forest now."