Olney Central happy to add Nailah Ray

Friday, March 24, 2017
Nailah Ray is flanked by her mother (Sharmaine Ray) and Olney Central head coach Clint Burris as she signs her national letter-of-intent to play college basketball at OCC. Witnessing the signing (back, from left) were GHS principal Russ Hesler, brother Azim Ray, GHS head coach Bradley Key, sister Kameelah Ray and GHS athletic director Greg Hill.
Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

Players who don’t start for their high school basketball teams don’t often get opportunities at the college level, but Greencastle’s Nailah Ray is an exception to that guideline.

Ray and sophomore Claire Gillen shared the center position for the Tiger Cubs this year, with Gillen normally starting games and Ray replacing her late in the first quarter.

Despite the uncommon but effective strategy, Olney Central coach Clint Burris found Ray and is glad to add her to his team for next season.

“My staff and I could not be more excited to add Nailah to our roster for the upcoming season,” Burris said. “She brings a positive energy that we are ready to work with on a daily basis. We really liked what we saw on film basketball-wise, but the more we got to know Ray-Ray the more we knew we wanted her to be part of our family.”

Burris said Ray is a “perfect fit” with the team’s returning players and some of the other pieces the Knights are adding to the roster for next year.

“This past season we had the best group of post players we have had in my time at OCC,” he said. “Ray will join returner Hannah Coleman, who will look to make their mark on our program the way Andresha Smith and two-time All-American Kelsi Scott did the last two seasons.

“I believe Nailah has barely scratched the surface of her potential, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help her grow and see what she can accomplish in her next two years.”

Ray averaged 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds this season, shooting 52 percent from the field.

She is equally excited to be joining the Knights, who finished 16-15 this winter and ranked 16th in the country in rebounding.

“The overall feeling of the signing was amazing,” she said. “I had so many people there teammates, family, close friends there to celebrate with me. As far as OCC goes, I just felt like that was the right fit for me to grow as a player and person. Coach Burris has made it very clear that I could do some great things while I’m at OCC for the two years with him and his coaching staff.”

Ray said that everything “just clicked” on her visit to the central Illinois school.

“With OCC being just two hours away, I’ll still be close to my family and friends but also still having the college feel,” she said. “When I committed to OCC first thing Coach Burris said was ‘Welcome to the Family’, and after I signed the first thing the coaching staff said was ‘Welcome to the Family.’ I got that ‘family’ vibe when I visited OCC and of course my mother appreciated knowing I’ll be fine with Coach Burris and the other girls.”

Ray will be continuing to work on her basketball skills as her high school days wind down, and she has also been busy throwing the shot put – qualifying for the indoor track state finals.

“I hit the weights twice a day, because I know I’m an undersized post player,” she said. “Track gives me the opportunity to get strong. But whenever I do have the chance before or after track practice, I just try to get in the gym even if it’s only for about 15-20 minutes just to work on my shots so I wouldn’t go a long time of not shooting.

“I’m very excited to get into the gym with my new team and coaches from OCC.”

Greencastle coach Bradley Key echoes coach Burris in pointing out both her strong qualities both athletically and personally.

“Nailah has some of the best post moves and footwork of any player that has come through our program in the last eight years,” Key said. “Nailah is not only an outstanding basketball player but a person who everyone just wants to be around. We are going to miss Nailah’s post presence, but we are also going to miss having her great personality every day.

“We know that Nailah is going to do great things academically and athletically at the next level.”

Ray was named both all-Putnam County and all-Western Indiana Conference this season.

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