The Entrapment - Eric Gray to Indiana State

Gray's rise from utility man off the bench to future Division I star began with his
hard work over the summer that included a 14-of-16 44-point output
with a dozen coaches in the stands.

By Frank Rusnak
Some may think that Thornwood senior Eric Gray has a lot on his shoulders in leading the undefeated Thunderbirds, but pressure isn't something that bothers him ... at least not on the court.

Growing up, Gray didn't have the normal parental support. With his dad, as Gray put it, preoccupied taking care of his other family to worry about him, and his mom too busy going out with her boyfriend, he was left in an awkward position.

"He wasn't expected there until 3 p.m., but he'd come every day at 12:30 p.m. with the eighth graders."

Bob Curran
Thornwood Coach

"My father passed away after a heart attack my freshman year," said Gray, who now supports an R.I.P. tattoo on his arm in memory of his dad. "But before that, he couldn't take care of me because he had another family. My mom liked to go to bingo and just stay on the streets a lot, and I've been with my auntie since I was 8."

Gray and his mom still keep in touch once a week when she comes to his games, but he's never had the urge to live with her again.

"There have been some episodes with that," said Gray about going to live back with his mom. "When I misbehaved my aunt would say she would send back with my mom, then I would cry because I wanted to stay with her."

Through Wallace, Gray has grown to become a polite, kind, well-respected young man according to Thornwood coach Bob Curran.

While Curran considers Gray a pleasure off the court, it is his on-court exploits that have brought Thornwood (8-0 entering the Bloomington/Normal Holiday Tourney) all its hype as one of the state's top teams despite a big-time presence like 2001 Thornwood graduate and current Chicago Bull Eddy Curry.

While Gray only started one game last year, he came into his senior year with a lot of expectations from a summer of extreme improvement.

"For the summer camp that I run, Eric would come in early to work on his jump shot," said Curran, who's in his first year as head coach and eighth year in the program. "He wasn't expected there until 3 p.m., but he'd come every day at 12:30 p.m. with the eighth graders. He'd even humble himself with the young guys and listen to what I was telling them because he realized he still had to improve on the basics."

The results paid off. Every time someone witnessed the 6-foot-1 combo guard this off-season, they were entrapped into liking him. Showing a deft outside shooting touch, tenacious in-your-shirt style of defense and attacking offensive style, Gray made believers of everyone who witnessed his exploits.

The highlight of his summer came in the Stagg High School Shootout where Gray ran off 14-of-16 shooting in one game with all but one three pointer en route to a 44-point output in front of a dozen Division I college coaches.

So caught up in his play, Northern Illinois, Loyola, UIC, Indiana State, Ball State and Illinois State all heavily recruited the tenacious sharpshooter. Coach Royce Waltman and the Indiana State eventually won out with a verbal commitment from Gray.

"A big reason why I committed was because of David (Moss, 2002 Thornwood graduate)," said Gray, who can't officially sign until the April period. "That's somebody that's there to show me the ropes at ISU."

Ironically, Gray has had to deal with many of the same situations as Moss in his prep career.

Just as Gray was placed with a reserve role last year, so was Moss in his junior year, subbing for stars Curry and current Purdue freshman Melvin Buckley. However, when Moss became a senior he was thrust into the spotlight, just as Gray is this year.

"His junior year David went through he same thing I went through with coming off the bench, and then set as being a leader his senior year," Gray said. "Even as the star, David made us a better team with his unselfishness."

Curran realizes that Gray's unselfishness, combined with his outside shooting, are what makes Gray special. But that's not all that make Eric Gray.

"Eric's a great ball player," Curran said. "But I do know that his aunt has done a great job raising a young man that has his head on straight."