Delaware State center Kendall Gray didn’t get to hear his name called in Thursday’s NBA Draft, but he will still get a shot to play in the league. The 2015 MEAC player of the year will play with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League.
Let’s hear it for Polytech & DSU grad Kendall Gray! He will play for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League! Way to go Kendall!– Scott Abraham (@S_Abraham_16) June 27, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsGray, who also won the league’s defensive player of the year, was hoping to become the first HBCU player selected in the NBA Draft since Orlando picked Norfolk State’s Kyle O’Quinn 49th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft and just the fourth HBCU player picked since the turn of the century.
Gray improved steadily during his four seasons at Delaware State. He came into college as a shot-blocker, swatting 3.2 shots per game as a freshman in 2012. His offensive game took a little longer to develop, but he averaged a double-double in 2015, scoring 11.7 points and grabbing 11.8 rebounds per game while blocking 2.8 shots per game.
With center Brook Lopez having declined his player option and choosing to participate in free agency, a good performance could go a long way for Gray.