Everett Ray's Hitting the Gym and the Books
One of SMU’s four 2017 basketball signees just sent in his application but with the amount of time he spends on campus, he might as well just start taking classes. CHANT homeschool power forward Everett Ray has been to several SMU home games and frequently visits the Hilltop.
“Sometimes before the season I would go up and hang out with the guys,” Ray said. “The guys on the team are one of the biggest reasons I chose SMU. They are really levelheaded guys, not too crazy. I know you can get a lot of attention being a college basketball player but these guys just want to get better. They are great students and that’s important to me.”
Ray has been putting in extensive hours in the gym to make sure he’s ready to play when he gets to campus. The 6-foot-7 Addison native typically has two individual training sessions a day on top of team workouts—it’s no wonder SMU junior Semi Ojeleye is one of this mentors.
“I love Semi and he’s the kind of guy I want to take me under his wing," Ray said. "He’s kind of quiet but he’s a great leader and a 4.0 student. And all the guys are like that but then they can turn around and laugh and joke just like anyone. They are just great men, so I’m looking forward to it.”
As for what he’s doing in the gym, Ray says he’s really working on being more explosive.
“I’m working on getting a lot more explosive as well as ball handling skills and transitioning into a true small forward,” Ray said. “My season is going really well, we’ll play the number one prep school in Texas, Pro-Vision, today. We’ve gone like 18-4 and we’ve got a really young group of kids, I’m the only senior. Some of my leadership skills definitely get to play in. “
Despite being in the midst of his own season, the senior still has time to watch his future team’s progress this season and would even argue the Mustang’s are putting a better product on the court than last year.
“I’ve been watching the team and keeping up with them,” Ray said. “Talking to Coach Jank and the guys, I knew they were going to have a good season and I think a lot of people underestimated them thinking that Coach Brown was going to leave and the program was going to drop off. I think they’ve gotten better honestly. They had a tough loss against Cincinnati but they got them at their absolute best and I think SMU had room to play better so I think they’re doing awesome. I’m excited to step on the court with a winning squad next year.
As SMU fans witnessed the Mustangs boast just a six-man rotation Wednesday night against UCF, they will be happy to know that reinforcements aren’t too far away and Ray’s arrival is imminent—he is academically squared away and cleared by the NCAA to join the team in the summer.