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Player to Watch: Chance Gray is Ohio State’s shooting guard of the future, primed for an immediate impact
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Chris Pietsch-The Register Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Cincinnati native left the Buckeye State, but can return in a big way with Ohio State.
When the winter NCAA season tips off, Ohio State women’s basketball will feature a highly rated younger sister of a basketball family. A player who won amateur accolades like Gatorade Player of the Year for their state, a spot on the McDonald’s All-American team and more.
In this case, Land-Grant isn’t talking about Jaloni Cambridge. Cincinnati, Ohio’s own Chance Gray joined the Buckeyes from the transfer portal.
Gray has to fill the shoes of some departing stars, but has the ability to usher in a successful new edition of the Scarlet and Gray. Gray dons scarlet and gray after two seasons for an Oregon Ducks side whose spotlight has faded in recent years.
After three 30-win seasons, head coach Kelly Graves’ Ducks dipped to an 11-21 2023-24 record. Without Gray, it could’ve worse for the new Big Ten side.
Since Gray’s first NCAA game, the guard played, and started, in all but one Oregon game. In that first contest, Gray showed the type of player to expect this year: A quick offensive-minded shooting guard, with the handles to work around defenses.
Against the Northwestern Wildcats on Nov. 7, 2022, Gray scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds and added four assists. An all-around performance in what became an All-Freshman Team debut.
That offense continued, with Gray averaging double-digits in both seasons at Oregon. With the Buckeyes, Gray fills a role vacated by now WNBA guard Jacy Sheldon. The two guards had similar paths in their first two NCAA seasons, before Sheldon moved to predominantly point guard duties in her final three years.
Sheldon and Gray averaged 12.3 and 12 points respectively in their first two campaigns. For Sheldon, her third season was statistically her best with a weapon around her in guard Taylor Mikesell.
While Gray and Mikesell have similar paths from Ohio raised to stops in Oregon, that’s where the similarities end. Mikesell was a historically strong three-point shooter. Gray can shoot from deep, but has an all-around offensive game and ball handling skills to make moves, when needed.
Something else the two former Ducks have in common is that Gray has no shortage of weapons with this upcoming Buckeyes side.
Aside from the No. 2 ranked prospect in the country in Cambridge, there’s an experienced group of playmakers. Forwards Cotie McMahon, Taylor Thierry and Ajae Petty compliment Gray in different ways.
For McMahon and Thierry, they’re known entities to Scarlet and Gray supporters.
McMahon finds holes in the defense and fills it with attacks to the basket. Last season, McMahon added more drive-and-dish moments, finding open teammates. Those will land at the hands of Gray, who will get her fair share of chances to take deep shots or move to open spots for midrange jumpers.
In the case of Thierry and Petty, they’re both threats inside the paint. For Thierry, the Buckeye entering her senior season is the most athletic person on any NCAA court. Thierry moves behind defenders and cleans up opportunities on the glass. With Petty, transferring to Ohio State this offseason, there’s the physicality to back into defenders and hit interior baskets.
Gray isn’t playing point guard with Cambridge and graduate senior Madison Greene on the roster, but she’ll have opportunities to build up assist numbers.
What about defense?
Head coach Kevin McGuff built a well known, chaos-inducing, press. Gray isn’t at the levels of Sheldon, the anchor of that defensive tactic, but Gray’s ceiling is high.
Back to that first NCAA game for Gray. The guard wasn’t only creating offensively but added three steals. As a freshman, Gray won an honorable mention on the Pac 12 All-Defensive Team. Under the guidance of McGuff, Gray can improve that defensive ability.
Defense is a team game, and last year the Ducks weren’t great in that department. Oregon ended in second to last place in the Pac 12 with a 98.6 defensive rating. Gray is now on the best defensive team in the Big Ten.
While it will take time for the new look Buckeyes to gel, when it does expect Gray to be a crucial part of its success.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Chris Pietsch-The Register Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Cincinnati native left the Buckeye State, but can return in a big way with Ohio State.
When the winter NCAA season tips off, Ohio State women’s basketball will feature a highly rated younger sister of a basketball family. A player who won amateur accolades like Gatorade Player of the Year for their state, a spot on the McDonald’s All-American team and more.
In this case, Land-Grant isn’t talking about Jaloni Cambridge. Cincinnati, Ohio’s own Chance Gray joined the Buckeyes from the transfer portal.
Gray has to fill the shoes of some departing stars, but has the ability to usher in a successful new edition of the Scarlet and Gray. Gray dons scarlet and gray after two seasons for an Oregon Ducks side whose spotlight has faded in recent years.
After three 30-win seasons, head coach Kelly Graves’ Ducks dipped to an 11-21 2023-24 record. Without Gray, it could’ve worse for the new Big Ten side.
Since Gray’s first NCAA game, the guard played, and started, in all but one Oregon game. In that first contest, Gray showed the type of player to expect this year: A quick offensive-minded shooting guard, with the handles to work around defenses.
Against the Northwestern Wildcats on Nov. 7, 2022, Gray scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds and added four assists. An all-around performance in what became an All-Freshman Team debut.
That offense continued, with Gray averaging double-digits in both seasons at Oregon. With the Buckeyes, Gray fills a role vacated by now WNBA guard Jacy Sheldon. The two guards had similar paths in their first two NCAA seasons, before Sheldon moved to predominantly point guard duties in her final three years.
Sheldon and Gray averaged 12.3 and 12 points respectively in their first two campaigns. For Sheldon, her third season was statistically her best with a weapon around her in guard Taylor Mikesell.
While Gray and Mikesell have similar paths from Ohio raised to stops in Oregon, that’s where the similarities end. Mikesell was a historically strong three-point shooter. Gray can shoot from deep, but has an all-around offensive game and ball handling skills to make moves, when needed.
Something else the two former Ducks have in common is that Gray has no shortage of weapons with this upcoming Buckeyes side.
Aside from the No. 2 ranked prospect in the country in Cambridge, there’s an experienced group of playmakers. Forwards Cotie McMahon, Taylor Thierry and Ajae Petty compliment Gray in different ways.
For McMahon and Thierry, they’re known entities to Scarlet and Gray supporters.
McMahon finds holes in the defense and fills it with attacks to the basket. Last season, McMahon added more drive-and-dish moments, finding open teammates. Those will land at the hands of Gray, who will get her fair share of chances to take deep shots or move to open spots for midrange jumpers.
In the case of Thierry and Petty, they’re both threats inside the paint. For Thierry, the Buckeye entering her senior season is the most athletic person on any NCAA court. Thierry moves behind defenders and cleans up opportunities on the glass. With Petty, transferring to Ohio State this offseason, there’s the physicality to back into defenders and hit interior baskets.
Gray isn’t playing point guard with Cambridge and graduate senior Madison Greene on the roster, but she’ll have opportunities to build up assist numbers.
What about defense?
Head coach Kevin McGuff built a well known, chaos-inducing, press. Gray isn’t at the levels of Sheldon, the anchor of that defensive tactic, but Gray’s ceiling is high.
Back to that first NCAA game for Gray. The guard wasn’t only creating offensively but added three steals. As a freshman, Gray won an honorable mention on the Pac 12 All-Defensive Team. Under the guidance of McGuff, Gray can improve that defensive ability.
Defense is a team game, and last year the Ducks weren’t great in that department. Oregon ended in second to last place in the Pac 12 with a 98.6 defensive rating. Gray is now on the best defensive team in the Big Ten.
While it will take time for the new look Buckeyes to gel, when it does expect Gray to be a crucial part of its success.
Continue reading...