THE HIGH SCHOOLS : It Was a Center’s Court When Gray Bolted Down

It wasn’t Gary Gray’s best move, or even his fastest, but considering the degree of difficulty, it had to rank as his most artistic.

Gray, a 6-9 senior center for Granada Hills, had long since completed his game and was sitting in the Sports Arena stands Friday night watching the Fairfax-Cleveland postgame ceremonies. Suddenly, his name was announced over the public-address system.

Now in street clothes, Gray ran down a flight of stairs two steps at a time, scrambled over a crowd-containment barrier, blew past a speechless security guard, waded through a crowd of bystanders, reporters and photographers and finally plowed his way through the Fairfax team en route to the awards table at center court.

Gray, who had a game-high 25 points and 17 rebounds before fouling out in Granada Hills’ 60-55 City Section 3-A championship victory over Birmingham, completed one of the best Highlander breakaways of the night. This time it wasn’t to collect another rebound but to collect another City award: a first-team all-tournament plaque to accompany the championship trophy his team had received two hours earlier.

“This is just icing on the cake,” Gray said after he returned from the brief ceremony, “This is the greatest thing. . . .”

Gray’s train of thought was interrupted by that intrusive public-address announcer again. Something about Gray being named the all-defensive player of the tournament. “Just a second,” Gray said as he lumbered off to receive his third prize of the night.

“Where was I?” he asked, after returning from his third trip to the midcourt. But Gray was interrupted yet again. This time it was a Crenshaw High administrator, who slipped Gray an envelope containing an invitation to play in a summer all-star game.

“You take that home and read it when you get a chance,” the Crenshaw representative said, placing his arm around Gray. “And you let me know what you think. I want you in my all-star game.”

Gray smiled, almost wearily, and fingered a bleeding scratch under his left eye. It had been a long night: a City championship, two individual awards, an invitation to an all-star game, the opportunity to play in front of a crowd of more than 11,000. Plus he had to contend with Birmingham’s Ennerea Maxwell and Keith Owens, a pair of 6-6 forwards who spent most of the night climbing up and down his back.

Yet here he was, once again, the center of attention.

Gray soon may have other reasons to smile. His performance in the championship game might have clinched a 3-A Player of the Year trophy. And thanks to his exceptional senior season, college recruiters undoubtedly will again be banging on his door.

The envelopes those recruiters will be carrying will contain invitations of a different nature.

Through Friday’s game, Gray has averaged 26.3 points and 14.9 rebounds. He has shot 66.9% and made 75% of his free throws. He has averaged 2.5 blocks and has not missed a game in his three-year varsity career. When Granada Hills (20-4) opens play in the state tournament, Gray is expected to start in his 68th straight game. Pairings for the state tournament will be determined today.

Gray decided in September to wait out the early signing period for college letters of intent, a move he probably won’t regret. He already has visited UC Santa Barbara and has trips to Minnesota and Washington tentatively scheduled for later this month.

“I’m sure glad he didn’t sign early,” Granada Hills Coach Bob Johnson said. “I’m glad for Granada and for him. If he had signed early, who knows what he would have done this season? He might not have played as well as he did.

“Gary has improved in every way. He does everything better than he did a year ago, his shooting, his defense, his rebounding.”

Johnson also has been impressed with Gray’s maturation on the court. As recently as last summer, Gray frequently sported a long face on the court and complained to officials about the rough treatment he received under the basket. Johnson helped him break that habit by equipping his players with football forearm pads and banging Gray around in practice.

“After a month of that, Gary started making baskets after he was fouled and he couldn’t do that before,” Johnson said. “He was pushed and shoved and knocked around all year, and he has really improved in his ability to take adversity on the court.”

Wait till next year: Admittedly, Cleveland’s showing in Friday’s 86-58 loss to Fairfax in the City 4-A final wasn’t its best of the year. In fact, Coach Bob Braswell said it was the team’s worst game this season. Even though the Cavaliers were blown out by nearly 30 points, however, Braswell was still upbeat after the game.

“We didn’t play a good basketball game tonight, but we have four starters coming back. We had no big stars, no big-name players this season,” Braswell said. “But we had a lot of heart.”

Cleveland also has a lot of youth. The team lost four games all season--all to Fairfax--which is ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today. Although Chris Mills returns, Fairfax loses starters J. D. Green and Sean Higgins.

Braswell can take solace in that Michael Gray, Richard Branham, starting forward Damon Charlot and starting guard Damon Greer are juniors. In addition, the nucleus of the junior varsity team--freshmen Bobby McRae and Andre Chevalier and sophomore Tim Bowen--may play varsity next season. All three were promoted to the varsity for this season’s playoffs.

“Bobby has the best chance,” Braswell said. “The other two guys are guards and we have Gray and Greer returning. McRae could see a lot of playing time next season.”

McRae is a 6-3 forward who came to Cleveland after qualifying for the school’s magnet program last year.

“I think we’ll come back pretty strong,” said Branham. “We had a really good year. We beat some good teams and lost to some good teams. We should be back as good as we were this year, with even more height.”

Snubbed: Braswell is incensed that no Cleveland player made the All-Valley League first team.

“We make it to the City final and you’re telling me none of my players are worthy of all-league?” he said. “C’mon.”

No Cavalier will make All-City either, because a player has to be first-team all-league.Anderson, Gray, Branham and Adrian King were named to the second team.

The Valley League was very strong this season and several teams had a bona fide star. Taft’s Kevin Franklin, El Camino Real’s Sean Davis and Kennedy’s Marcus Malone were named to the first team along with Fairfax’s Mills, Higgins and Green.