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'Physically strong' Isaiah Gray plays key role for Akron Zips men's basketball team
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- 'Physically strong' Isaiah Gray plays key role for Akron Zips men's basketball team
John Groce has worked with his share of "studs" as the University of Akron men's basketball coach .
Enrique Freeman, Ali Ali and Greg Tribble Jr. were "studs" on last year's Mid-American Conference Tournament championship team .
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Loren Cristian Jackson, Tyler Cheese, Xeyrius Williams, Channel Banks and Xavier Castaneda were "studs" on previous MAC championship teams.
And this year's team has a few "studs" of its own in Nate Johnson, Tavari Johnson and Isaiah Gray .
Akron guard Isaiah Gray secures a rebound against Northern Kentucky guard Trey Robinson, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
Gray scored a career-high 22 points last Friday in a 92-80 home win over Ohio. Gray made 7 of 12 shots from the field and 7 of 7 free throws. He also totaled five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 29 minutes.
"Isaiah's a stud," Groce said Friday. "He's physical, he's tough, he cares about winning and he cares about other people. He cares about the right things. I just told some people that met him, my only regret is I don't get to coach him for more than one year. I said the same thing about [Trendon] Hankerson when we had Hankerson. He was at our Eastern Michigan game [Jan. 11]. Ali Ali was here tonight.
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"Those guys helped us develop and build the foundation of what you see, in particular the last five or six years. They mean a lot to us. It was great to see them. I don't feel any differently about Isaiah. I think he is physically tough. He plays both ends. He is competitive. Obviously, he is physically strong for a guard [at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds]. He brings a different dimension in that regard with his physical toughness and his physicality. He has really worked on his shooting and become a really good shooter."
Gray returns to the court at 7 p.m. Tuesday when the Zips (12-5, 5-0) visit Buffalo (6-11, 1-4).
Gray is in his first year at Akron after spending four years at Cornell (three years as a player).
Gray's previous career-high was 19 points on March 19, 2024, in Cornell's 88-83 loss at Ohio State in an NIT first-round game. Cornell finished last season 22-8.
Akron guard Isaiah Gray shoots over a Northern Kentucky defender, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
"Shout out MACtion. It's been fun," Gray said Friday regarding his first year at Akron. "We have had two good back-to-back home games [beating Toledo 85-78 and Ohio 92-80] with good energy against solid teams. It's been fun. It's early. I know we have a lot more games to go and there are going to be ups and downs, but this is a pretty good introduction if you ask me.
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"... Being a new guy, it is not always super seamless, but I feel like this has been as seamless as it gets from my perspective. Being on a new team, in a new state and in a new situation, shout out our overall team culture. It is very accepting and very welcoming. If you are willing to put the work in, there is a spot for you here. We have a lot of guys who are willing to put the work in."
Akron has nine newcomers this season, including rotation players Seth Wilson, Bowen Hardman, James Okonkwo, Sharron Young and Gray.
"Our chemistry starts off the court first," Akron junior Amani Lyles said Friday. "We have a great relationship off the court. Love every one of the guys and we just jell well together and it translates onto the court. They play very smoothly, free flowing and help us get victories."
Redshirt junior Nate Johnson (12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists) and junior Tavari Johnson (11.5 points, 4.1 assists) are Akron's top playmakers.
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Gray is Akron's third-leading scorer at 10.4 points, and is also averaging 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
"He is a player that is going to play hard every game," Nate Johnson said Friday. "He comes out, he guards, he defends, he can get downhill, he can create and he can shoot. He is the player that we recruited him to be who can basically come out here and do it all."
Lyles said Gray is "one of the best downhill guards I know."
"If you get in front of him, I am praying for you," Lyles said with a smile. "He is really good at getting downhill, he hustles, he gives energy, he gives effort, he is a leader on the court and he is a great guy off the court."
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Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cornell transfer Isaiah Gray plays key role for Akron men's basketball
