Prospect Spotlight: Semaj Ray (2017)
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Although he currently does not have any offers, Bishop Miege 2017 guard Semaj Ray is drawing interest from several schools after a strong summer playing with KC Run GMC.
At 6’2, 185, Ray is known for his defensive intensity and is at his best driving to the bucket and pulling up for mid-range jumpers. This summer, Ray competed with KC Run GMC 17U and says he mainly focused on getting his 3-point shot down and improving his jumper off the dribble shots while playing for KC Run GMC 17Us.
Playing alongside Eudora’s Mitchell Ballock, Blue Valley Northwest’s Darien Jackson and others, Ray got a lot of exposure throughout the offseason as college coaches flocked to watch his squad play.
“They (KC Run GMC) helped me get some exposure that I’ll always be grateful for,” he said.
He has heard from several NCAA Division I programs, including Denver, IUPUI and Florida Gulf Coast.
“I am being humble about it and just working hard to prove I belong at the Division I level of college basketball,” Ray said.
Armed with some of the state’s most talented players, including Bol Bol and Jeremiah Robinson, expectations are high for Bishop Miege. Ray says he hopes to win his third straight league title as well as a state title.
He says he is looking forward to playing Blue Valley Northwest, Blue Valley, St. Thomas Aquinas and St James.
“They all have players from my AAU team who I can now compete against and that’s always fun and Aquinas because they are our rivals,” Ray said.
A fan of Russell Westbrook, Ray says Bishop Miege head coach Rick Zych has been the most influential person in his basketball career.
“He has been really influential in my career because he gets on me the most and he knows my potential to be a really great player and he pushed me to be better,” Ray said.
Ray says he and Russell Westbook share birthdays and that he sees some of his own game in the MVP candidate.
“We are always in attack mode and very explosive when getting to the rim and never quits on any given play,” Ray said. “I watch his highlights and the things he does every night before I go to bed and try to implement it to my game.”