On Saturday, Fordham University secured a major piece upon receiving a commitment from 6-foot-8 Elijah Gray. The skilled, strong-bodied forward has steadily progressed over years. His foundation as an undersized big man transitioned seamlessly into an inside-out forward with interior toughness and perimeter ability. Gray can score the ball in a variety of ways from all levels, and naturally causes matchup problems with his blend of size, skill, and athleticism. We sat down to talk with the notable prospect, his journey, and expectations for the future…
JB: What ultimately led to your decision to commit to Fordham University'
EG: My recruitment, like many high school players during the pandemic, was very unorthodox. I was on a lot of Zoom calls over the last two years. That said, I was able to learn a great deal about many wonderful schools and build many valuable relationships through this process. With Fordham, Coach Urgo and his staff evaluated my game and immediately brought me in and made me feel like family. Most of the staff have been together for a while with Jay Wright at Villanova and I could just feel that same level of commitment to excellence to build something special at Fordham and I want to be a part of that. It's cliche but their plan for me is bigger than basketball. I ultimately chose Fordham because of the culture, the staff's commitment to development and the style of play really fits my game. Not to mention New York is the greatest stage in the world to put my talent on display and to pursue anything I want after my basketball career. Fordham is the 40-year plan.
JB: Speak to your high school journey (Carmel Christian, Ardrey Kell, and Hargrave Military) and what each experience brought.
EG: My high school journey was unique. The first two years at Carmel Christian I was able to compete with some high-level players and I learned a lot about how hard I needed to work to get my game to the next level. When the pandemic hit, I decided to attend Ardrey Kell, the public school in my zone, to finish my high school career. Covid forced us into a distance learning environment so it wasn't exactly the high school experience you'd want but I made it through. The basketball experience was great though. Coach Craft is one of the best high school coaches in NC and he allowed me to explore the limits of my game. The feedback was incredible and I improved every day. Although Covid and city restrictions limited our season to 11 games, my time at AK is an experience I'll always remember. It was that experience which made the decision to transfer to Hargrave Military Academy (for my senior) one of the toughest decisions I've ever made. The Hargrave experience was challenging mostly because I was away from my family for the first time. However, once I made that adjustment, I was able to settle in to the daily rigors of life at Hargrave. The 6am wake-ups every day, morning formations, room & uniform inspections, drill practices and the company activities/competitions helped me continue my development as a young man and taught me a lot about leadership. On the basketball side of things, it was very competitive. There's a tradition of excellence with Hargrave basketball and the coaching staff set that expectation every day. That expectation, competing against the best players in the country, the travel and getting to play over 40 games, all prepared me for life at the next level. I wouldn't change anything about my high school journey. I'm grateful for every experience.
JB: How do you envision yourself fitting with the team, both on and off the court'
EG: In the last month I've watched a lot of film on Fordham and they typically have 4 to 5 guys on the floor who can shoot, handle and pass as well as guard multiple positions. So, I believe the style of play fits my game perfectly. I also had the opportunity to get on campus and meet the guys I'll go to war with starting this summer and I believe I'll be able to add value right away. Ultimately, I'm a team first guy and I'm going to do whatever it takes to help build a winning tradition at Fordham. Off the court, I know we will build a great bond. As I said before, Coach Urgo and his staff have created an environment where they don't have to talk about family, you feel it from the first moment you meet everyone. I'm already a part of the RAMily. #ItsAGreatDayToBeARam