Rudy Gay
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Gay with UConn coach Jim Calhoun
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| Position | Shooting guard/Small forward |
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| Height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| League | NBA |
| Team | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Jersey | #22 |
| Born | August 17, 1986 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Nationality | American |
| College | UConn |
| Draft | 8th overall, 2006 Houston Rockets |
| Pro career | 2006–present |
| Official profile | Info Page |
Rudy Carlton Gay, Jr. (born August 17, 1986 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. Gay played collegiately at the University of Connecticut.
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[edit] Early life
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Gay began playing competitive recreational basketball at 12 years old with the Dundalk, a team made up of players from Turner Station, that was based in the Baltimore City area, one of the toughest youth basketball leagues in the area. He later played with New Shiloh.
Early exposure includes basketball trips to Philadlephia with Dundalk, coaches Ricky Easterling, Tracy Mitchell, and Lawana "Pooch" Beverly. These trips placed many top athletes against each other in a NCAA tournament style. With New Shiloh, Gay played in the Tom Jones Youth Summer League in Washington, DC. Philadelphia trips placed him against top AAU players and Baltimore City league put him against high-level competition.
During the spring of his 8th grade year, Gay and a teammate Scott Dozier were highly sought after by several private and magnet schools in the Baltimore area. Both players enrolled at Eastern Tech High School in Baltimore County, and at St. Paul's School for Boy's. During the summer of their eighth grade year, both players attended summer sessions at St. Paul's. Scott Dozier remained and Gay decided to attend Eastern Tech.
Gay began playing for the Cecil-Kirk AAU program under Coach Anthony Lewis.
[edit] High school career
Gay played his first two years at Baltimore County's Eastern Technical High School, a magnet school in Essex. He played varsity basketball both years.
Although Eastern Tech was a Blue Ribbon academic institution, Gay's parents were concerned about his college preparation and during the summer of his sophomore year solicited help from Coach Collins who suggested several private schools, including Archbishop Spalding High School.
After reviewing each school's long term academic curriculum, it was decided that Gay would attend Spalding. Gay began playing for Spalding his Junior and senior years.
He was one of the top recruits entering college play after attending Archbishop Spalding High School where he was 1st team All-Baltimore Catholic League honors as a junior and senior, and was also honored as the Baltimore Sun's co-player of the year. He was a McDonald's All-American, and a Parade First Team All-American in his senior year after averaging 21.2 points per game, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks.[1]
[edit] College career
Gay was often regarded as the most talented player in college basketball[who?]. Throughout his college career, Gay was known for his high-flying dunks and ability to do everything on the court. He was a co-winner (with Jeff Green of Georgetown University) of the 2005 Big East Conference Freshman of the Year award. Gay was also named the National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News.
In the summer of 2005, Gay was invited to play for the USA's Men's Under-21 World Championship Team. He performed well, posting one double-double while averaging 10.5 points a game and 5.5 rebounds.
Before his sophomore season began, Gay was nominated as Big East Preseason player of the year, along with Syracuse star, Gerry McNamara. After the season concluded, Gay was one of four division one college players nominated for the Naismith Player of the Year Award (along with J. J. Redick, Adam Morrison, and Allan Ray). Also, he was a unanimous selection to the Big East's First Team. He tallied his career high in points with 28 versus Arkansas in the second game of the 2005-2006 season. Gay led the UConn Huskies to a 30-3 record, often the highest scorer, before losing to #11 seed George Mason in overtime, 86-84.
[edit] NBA career
[edit] Draft
Gay, widely regarded as one of the top future NBA prospects, announced on April 17 that he would enter the 2006 NBA Draft.[2] He was selected with the 8th overall pick in the draft by the Houston Rockets. Gay was disappointed since he was picked later than expected.
Despite his drop in draft position, many teams still coveted him. Memphis Grizzlies' President of Basketball Operations Jerry West swung a deal to send Shane Battier to the Rockets in exchange for Stromile Swift and the rights to Gay.
[edit] Memphis Grizzlies
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (February 2008) |
Gay averaged 10.8 points a game, although the Grizzlies won 22 games that season and missed the playoffs. In 2007-8, his second season, Gay averaged 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and after Pau Gasol was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers during the season, he became the team's leading scorer.
After his invitation to the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, Gay and YouTube teamed up for the Rudy Gay Slam Dunk Contest promotion, in which he asked fans to upload footage of their best dunks for him to attempt during the contest.
[edit] Statistics
- 2003-2004 (High School Senior)
- 21.2 Points Per Game
- 9.2 Rebounds Per Game
- 3.7 Blocks Per Game
- 2004-2005 (UCONN Freshman)
- 11.4 Points Per Game
- 5.4 Rebounds Per Game
- 1.5 Assists Per Game
- 1.9 Blocks Per Game
- 2005-2006 (UCONN Sophomore)
- 15.2 Points Per Game
- 6.4 Rebounds Per Game
- 2.1 Assists Per Game
- 1.6 Blocks Per Game
- 2006-2007 (NBA Rookie)
- 10.8 Points Per Game
- 4.5 Rebounds Per Game
- 1.3 Assists Per Game
- 0.9 Blocks Per Game
- 2007-2008 (2nd year as pro in NBA)
- 20.0 Points Per Game
- 6.10 Rebounds Per Game
- 1.8 Assists Per Game
- 1.0 Blocks Per Game
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Official Site of Rudy Gay
- Rudy Gay Info Page at NBA.com
- Rudy Gay Statistics at Basketball-Reference.com
- Rudy Gay NBA Draft Profile
- USA Basketball profile
- ESPN college profile
- Bio @ uconnhuskies.com
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