Player: Justin Ray
Height: 6'3
Position: Combo Guard
Class: 2024
School: Eastside HS (SC)
Continuing our line of topics from the South Carolina Team Camp the other weekend, another player of interest that I really wanted to get my eyes on was 2024 Justin Ray from Eastside. We had a great chance to view him in 2021 at our South Carolina Top 80, where he was a standout there and we had this to say about his game:
'He's a smart, skilled guard prospect with phenomenal shooting prowess from the perimeter and the ability to consistently make plays with or without the ball in his hands. Ray creates well for himself and others and displays an understanding of how to make quality decisions when attacking. He does a quality amount of everything offensively while also playing with a high motor and consistently overwhelming opponents with his defensive instincts. Ray caused a ton of problems for opponents and truly showcased no glaring weaknesses on either side of the ball.'
With an updated viewing of his game down in Rock Hill, Ray is one that should be gaining and earning more traction with D1 coaches, as offers should be coming his way. The 6'3 guard put it all on display and looks locked in this summer and what could be a huge high school season for him. That isn't saying he didn't have a big sophomore season, because he did, as he finished the season averaging 18.2 points per game and shooting 43 percent from the field (including 53 3-pointers).
Ray plays with a smooth feel to the game, really displaying tremendous explosiveness in rising over defenders, getting to his spots, creating well and finishing, but also being a threat from outside. He shoots the ball with extreme confidence, gets to his spots, can knock down shots from a variety of levels, has terrific hands and is active in transition, and embraces contact. He had a strong showing and did so with consistency throughout the LIVE Team Camp down in Rock Hill, SC. And from what we saw, schools should really start making him a priority in the class of 2024.
