Michael L

2-20-09

5^th hour

Marquis Gray

 Introduction

There have been many great athletic people in the sports world. Some of them were Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Many others have tried. But this extraordinary player might have a chance. You will learn about his athletic life from high school to his junior year.

High School

 Marquis Gray was a very successful athlete in high school.  He was born July/14/1986.  He was son of Rebecca and Joe Washington Jr. (deceased).  In high school, from freshman to senior year he had many awards.  He went to Flint Beecher High School in Flint, Michigan. In Marquis’s first year in high school basketball he was just an average player getting use to the new style of basketball and keeping his grades up.  Marquis’s second year as a sophomore his career sparked up.  He led Flint Beecher to an appearance in the Class C state final. He had a single game against both Saginaw Noel and the Muskegon Heights in which he averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds as a sophomore.  Marquis Gray played A.A.U basketball and skill building. 

Marquis Gray was voted in many athletic awards.  He was one of the best players on his high school team for Flint Beecher.  InsidersHoops.com rated Marquis Gray number 6 as a small forward.  Marquis Gray averaged 16.5 points and 15. Rebounds as a junior.  Marquis Gray was The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press Dream Team member.  Marquis finished fourth in the voting for the 2004 Hal Scharm Mr. Basketball Award. Marquis Gray led the Flint Beecher Buccaneers to a 17-8 record and an appearance in the Class C regional championship game. RivalsHoops.com ranked him the number 21 player in the United States.

College Basketball 2004-2005

Before Marquis was even with the MSU Spartans he was being watched by Tom Izzo, the famous Michigan State Coach. Tom was looking for skillful players to improve his Spartan team. So he was went and looked for players. Then he found Marquis Gray. This was Marquis Gray’s first year at MSU but he didn’t get to play though. He was red shirted.  He watched his team, the Spartans, advance to tournaments and games. The only thing he did was practice and get to know the Spartans during practice and as they socialized. .  Tom Izzo was looking small and big players to recruit. And here were the players for center, Idong Ibok and Goran Sutton.  They were both 6-foot and they weigh over 240 pounds.

Tom Izzo is a very wise and smart coach.  When he recruited he had main players in mind.  That’s where Marquis comes in, Tom Izzo chose Marquis Gray because he was a powerful forward. He also chose a much-needed Drew Nitzel who was to be point guard.  Marquis was chosen so he could take some pressure off of Paul Davis.  Marquis still had a lot to experience with the Spartans, and the big rivalry between the Wolverines and the Spartans. When that day came Marquis had never been in such a loud place before. The game was as loud as ever for Marquis. He has never seen such a big rivalry before, only on television. And the rivalry got him pumped even more and couldn’t wait to play.

This is also the year Michigan State went to the NCAA tournament but only to be defeated by North Carolina. And all Marquis could do is sit on the sideline and watch MSU get beat as they put up a great fight against North Carolina. Before MSU was beaten by UNC they had to play in the Big Ten Tournament, which they also lost but against a ranked team so it wasn’t that bad.

But one of the most interesting games of the season was the match up of Shannon Brown and Dee Brown. The teams facing each other were MSU against Ill. Sometimes during the game Marquis would complement on the players efforts and he would give some advice. 

Marquis couldn’t wait to play next year.  Before they or MSU went to the NCAA tournament the season went on and so did Marquis’s dream of playing with the Spartans and that would come soon.  Marquis didn’t really care about Nitzel until he got to play with him.  The only time Marquis got to play with the team is when they practiced learning all of the plays so he would be ready to play next year.  Tom Izzo was impressed with Marquis’s basketball skills and abilities. Marquis was 6ft 6 inches and 215 pounds a Flint native who averaged 25 points and 17 rebounds and 4 blocks as a high school senior.  But Marquis didn’t play this season so he would play the 2005-2006 seasons.

College Basketball 2005-2006

Marquis Gray posted season highs were 10 points and team-best 9 rebounds against Tennessee tech.  Marquis also lead MSU in rebounding with 6 rebounds against Penn State and Minnesota. He was rated third on the squad with 19 dunks. He Shot 52.1 percent from the field in other words from out side the free throw area. He turned in a solid effort against Chaminade, with nine points and 8 rebounds.  Marquis Gray made his first career start playing against Boston College in the Jimmy V Classic.  In Madison Square Garden. Marquis Gray put eight points and 5 rebounds in a season-high 25 minutes. In the Jimmy V Classic during December.  Marquis Gray had points and 5 rebounds playing against Indiana.  Marquis Gray had other top rebounding games that included 7 board efforts vs. Florida International and Wisconsin. He blocked a season-best three shots against Coppin State, adding 2 blocks vs. Iowa and Penn State. Marquis missed the final five games of the season with a broken right foot. This wasn’t the way Marquis Gray wanted to end his first year as an athlete.  He at least he got to play with the talented Drew Nitzel as Marquis Gray reached his first career high and amazing dunks and blocks. Marquis Gray started in 29 of the basketball games he was second on the team with the most blocked shots and fifth in rebounding average, which was 3.6 RPG.

College Basketball 2006-2007

The 06-07 seasons was Marquis Gray’s second year as a Spartan.  And is the season when Drew Nitzel had his heart-pounding year with Goron Sutton and Raymar Morgan.  Marquis Gray didn’t start in all of the games and he only appeared in 35 games.  He was ranked second on the team in rebounding with 5.5 RPG. Marquis Gray led MSU in field-goal percentage (.578) among players with at least 50 made field-goal attempts. He averaged 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 2 NCAA tournament games shooting 8 of 11 from the field and 7 of 7 at the foul line. 

He led the team in scoring in only one game, totaling 13 points against IPFW. Marquis scored a career high – best 19 points against Loyola (Md).  He also scored in double figures in ten games including 16 points vs. Northwestern, 15 points vs. BYU and 14 points vs. Oakland and Penn state. Marquis Gray tailed three double –doubles vs. Oakland (11/24 14 points and 12 rebounds), BYU (12/9 15 points, 12 rebounds) and Loyola (M.D.); 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Marquis Gray lead Michigan State in rebounding in 8 games, adding or including 4 games in double figures, Marquis Gray grabbed a career-best 12 boards going against Oakland and BYU. He also totaled 11 rebounds vs. Chicago State and Loyola (M.D.).  He was ranked fourth on the team for blocked shots, which were 22, blocked shots and fifth with 20 steals. Blocked a career-best, which was 4 shots against Bradley adding 2 steals. Marquis Gray also blocked four shots in another four contest.

College Basketball 2007-2008

Marquis Gray appeared in all of the games, starting 14 of the total 36.  And with Nitzel’s final year as a Spartan, Marquis and others had the opportunity to shine.  Marquis Gray averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.  He was second on the Spartans teams in field goal percentage. He came up to 60.7 percent of his shots (65 of 107).  Marquis had many dunks which he tied the team and lead with 26 dunks.  He scored in double figures in three games, including a season high, which was 5 points against IPFW (12/5).  He also tied double-figure points against Jacksonville (11 points on 12/1/07) and playing against Bradley he scored 10 points on 12/4/07.

 He led Michigan State in rebounding in two games, with him grabbing seven against Penn State (2/20) and six against the number 2 team in the country UCLA (1/20). Marquis recorded a season-best with eight rebounds at Iowa (1/12). He grabbed seven rebounds in 6 games and 6 boards in 4 contests. Saw double figure minutes in 26 games, also including a season high 28 against UCLA. Marquis Gray started 13 of the first 14 games of the season for the season for the Spartans. He had nine blocks and 10 steals during those games.

Tom Izzo

How tom Izzo became coach?

 Before tom Izzo was MSU head Coach he was an assistant coach for MSU. Tom Izzo became head coach for Michigan State in 1993 or 1994. When Tom became Head Coach he brought MSU to many victories, NCAA and Big Ten Tournaments.

Why Tom Izzo chose Marquis Gray?

Tom Izzo chose Marquis Gray for many reasons 1. He was talented, skillful and athletic. 2. He could help MSU become a better team. 3. Marquis Gray was a powerful forward. 4. He could take pressure of Paul Davis cause he played every game. And Marquis Gray was voted for many awards.

Conclusion

If you don’t think that Marquis Gray is NBA material than you must be out of your mind. Just because he doesn’t sound awesome just by hearing his Sports Life then see a state game you will know he will make it in the NBA.

Michael

2-25-2009

5^th hr

Works Sited

http://msuspartans.cstv.com//sports/m-baskbl/mtt/gray_marquis00.html

http://bigten.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/041805aab.html

http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2004/19.htm

Encarta 2008

Michigan state story or Spartan History