FEATURED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Nailah Ray, Greencastle

Friday, November 18, 2016
Nailah Ray
Banner Graphic/Joey Bennett

Nailah Ray is a senior at Greencastle who plays for the Tiger Cubs’ basketball team. She is in her second year at Greencastle, and wishes she had moved earlier from Indianapolis.

Banner Graphic: How long have you been playing basketball, and what do you like about it the best?

Nailah Ray: “I have played since seventh grade. I like how everyone is close, especially since moving from Indianapolis to Greencastle. It’s a small town, and everyone knows everyone. Everyone knew who I was when I moved here, and I like that.”

BG: What is your best basketball highlight at Greencastle?

NR: “Definitely winning the county last year, with Bethany [Burgeson] hitting the game-winning shot. That was unbelievable. I wrote a poem about it.”

BG: What is your favorite class in school?

NR: “I really like creative writing. I am very creative, and I like to write. I like making up stories and essays. I have Mr. Wheeler for AP English and Miss Hunt came from Indianapolis this year, so we kind of have that Indianapolis connection.”

BG: What kinds of things do you do when you’re not playing basketball or doing schoolwork?

NR: “I work at Kroger. I watch a lot of ‘Survivor’. That’s my favorite show. I want to be on it someday. I might watch a few movies on Netflix, but that’s about it. I play the violin, and I was in the orchestra before I moved here.”

BG: Have you done traveling?

NR: “This summer coming up, I have planned to go to Canada. I have never been there, but I like everything about it. I love the cold weather. I want to move there after I graduate.”

BG: That has nothing to do with the recent presidential election results, does it?

NR: “No. [Laughing].”

BG: You have a unique first name. Is there any special story behind it?

NR: “I am named after my grandmother. We were born five days apart, so they gave me that name. We act just the same, so it’s really cool. It’s pronounced n-aye-EE-lah, but nobody can pronounce it so everybody just calls me ‘Ray’. If I hear ‘Nailah’ I’m not even sure they’re talking to me.”

BG: What are your plans for after high school?

NR: “I am going to college for athletic training. I’m not sure where yet, but I’m going to try to play basketball. I have a lot of options. Hopefully I pick one soon.”

BG: Are you going to miss Greencastle after this year?

NR: “Most definitely. I talk to coach [Bradley] Key all the time about how I wish I would have moved here my freshman year [from Crispus Attucks High School] instead of last year. I love it here. I have a lot of close friendships.”

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: