Player: JJ Gray
Class: 2028
Height: 6’5
Previous School: Carolina Forest

What an offseason it has been for North and South Carolina, with significant movement throughout both states.  Queen’s Grant has had some highs and lows in the last week, first learning about the transfer of one of the top prospects in the state in 2028 Mekhi Allen, who will be heading out of state.  But not long after that, it was announced they will be replacing him with one of the premier guards from South Carolina in 2028 6’5 Justin Gray from Carolina Forest.

Coming off a 2A State Championship last season, Queen’s Grant was sitting in a great position to repeat as title contenders again and they still are, just with a different recipe. Losing Allen was a big blow but there shouldn’t be too much of a drop off with Gray, as he brings an excellent presence offense with his shot-making, size, and feel for the game. He is regarded as one of the top shooters from South Carolina, displaying terrific range and confidence from behind the arc, and he also plays with tremendous pace/feel, scoring in a variety of ways, helping on the glass, and playing with a high IQ.  He is also the son of current head coach Justin Gainey at Coastal Carolina, so Gray certainly knows what it takes to play at a high level and at the next level, as he holds multiple D1 offers already.

Though Queen’s Grant will be looking a bit different, don’t expect much drop-off (if any) from this program as Coach Badgett and his team have their eyes on yet another title run this season in North Carolina.  

What Has Been Said by Phenom Hoops:

“Next, JJ Gray is a 6-foot-3 prospect in the Class of 2028. Between his intangibles, skill set, and physical tools, there’s certainly a lot to like about his identity. Gray is a very smart, smooth wing with the ability to fill it up in a variety of ways. He’s comfortable applying pressure as a creator or off-ball threat. Gray displays a nice handle with sharp vision and the ability to reliably attack off the dribble. He’s a terrific shooting threat who moves well without the ball and consistently knocks down jumpers along the perimeter. Gray is a great rebounder for his size/position and consistently contains his assignment defensively. Next in his development process is working to get stronger, as it would make him a more imposing player. Coach Paris on Gray: “JJ is an athletic wing who can get to the paint and finish. Displays touch around the basket. Sees the floor well. Very coachable.” Gray proved to be an asset during camp and should be a focal point for Myrtle Beach over the coming years.” – SC Top 80 Evaluation

“Gray is another prospect that you will want to learn about and that college programs will be looking at hard in the Class of 2028 in South Carolina. He checks off a lot of early boxes and has truly developed/improved his game over the last year. When you first talk about his game, you have to first notice his shot-making ability and range. He has a confident and fluid release, getting to his spots and rising up from the perimeter with comfort. But he has shown a blossoming skill set that allows him to score off the bounce, display strong feel and IQ, and one that should only allow him to grow even more as a prospect. He had a strong freshman season, averaging 18ppg, 5.1rpg, and 1.7spg, and he should look to repeat those numbers this upcoming season.”