Allan Ray
Encyclopedia
Allan Ray is an American
professional basketball
player. He currently plays for the French team Pau-Orthez
. He played college basketball
for four years at Villanova University
. He played one season (2006–07) with the Boston Celtics
of the National Basketball Association
. Ray is known as an above average, but streaky, three-point shooter, who is skilled at creating his own shot. At 6'2" and 205 pounds, he is an average-sized guard.
, by Villanova
head coach Jay Wright
. He committed to the Wildcats in 2001, along with three other players that made up a highly praised recruiting class. Along with Randy Foye
, Curtis Sumpter
and Jason Fraser, Ray was part of a class proclaimed as the players to lead the Wildcats back to a championship.
on November 15, 2002. As a sophomore he averaged a team-leading 17.3 points per game.
and led the Wildcats in scoring with 16.2 ppg. That year, he also led Villanova to the Sweet 16 of the 2005 NCAA Tournament
where they lost to eventual national champion North Carolina
by one point.
and split their two games with the Huskies, winning the one played at home, in what some called the biggest Villanova win in over 20 years. Their final Big East regular-season record was 14-2 in what some called the toughest conference ever. Overall, their record was 28-5. In 2006, Ray was named to the Big East first team, along with teammate Randy Foye, who was given the honor of Big East Player of the Year. Ray led Villanova to the Elite Eight of the 2006 NCAA Tournament
, playing in a four-guard offense with Foye, Kyle Lowry
and Mike Nardi
.
. His vision apparently left him for a period of time and his eyeball had seemed to come loose from the socket, leading most to believe it was an extremely serious injury. However, his vision returned and it turned out to be only soft tissue damage. He was able to play less than a week later in the NCAA tournament, without goggles. In his first game back, he led Villanova in scoring. While on the video it appeared as though his eye came loose from the socket, his eyelid actually went behind his eye giving off the impression of his eye coming loose.
Ray was not selected in the 2006 NBA Draft
, surprising many Big East fans and some NBA experts. On July 6, 2006, he was signed as a free agent by the Boston Celtics
. Ray was sent to the D-League Austin Toros
, but due to the many injuries on the team, was recalled after just two games there. During the last two months of the season, Ray began receiving extended playing time with the Celtics, and had two 22-point games and three others where he scored 20, 18 and 17 points. Ray was also fourth among rookies in three-point percentage. On July 27, 2007, Ray asked to be waived by the Celtics, in pursuit of a better contract in Italy
.
Ray then signed on with the Euroleague
club Lottomatica Virtus Roma. Mid-way through the following season, after the club signed Brandon Jennings
(whom Ray served as a mentor to), Ray left to sign a contract with Carife Ferrara for the remaining part of the season. After sitting out the 2009–10 season to recover from knee surgery, Ray signed with Sutor Montegranaro for the 2010-11 season.
In November 2011 he signed a temporary contract with BC Krka in Slovenia
, but in December 2011 signed a new contract with Pau-Orthez
in France
.
Bobcats men's basketball team for the 2012–13 season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He currently plays for the French team Pau-Orthez
Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
The Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez is a French professional basketball club that is based in Pau. They play their home games at the Palais des Sports de Pau.- History :...
. He played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for four years at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. He played one season (2006–07) with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. Ray is known as an above average, but streaky, three-point shooter, who is skilled at creating his own shot. At 6'2" and 205 pounds, he is an average-sized guard.
College career
Ray was recruited out of that year's New York State Champions, St. Raymond High SchoolSt. Raymond High School for Boys
St. Raymond High School for Boys is a parochial high school affiliated with the New York, U.S.A. Archdiocesan Association of Catholic Schools. It is accredited by the Board of Regents of the State of New York, the Middle States Association and the Brothers of the Christian Schools...
, by Villanova
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
This is the article about the men's basketball team from Villanova University. The team has competed since the 1920–21 season. Nicknamed the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Big East Conference and the Philadelphia Big Five. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA...
head coach Jay Wright
Jay Wright (coach)
Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright, Jr. is an American basketball coach. He is currently the men's coach at Villanova University. He was born in Churchville, Pennsylvania, U.S., and is married to a former Villanova cheerleader...
. He committed to the Wildcats in 2001, along with three other players that made up a highly praised recruiting class. Along with Randy Foye
Randy Foye
Randy Foye is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. He played collegiately at Villanova University. He was selected seventh overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, and later traded to...
, Curtis Sumpter
Curtis Sumpter
Curtis Marcus Sumpter is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent who last played for Maroussi from the HEBA A1....
and Jason Fraser, Ray was part of a class proclaimed as the players to lead the Wildcats back to a championship.
Freshman and sophomore seasons
Ray's career at Villanova was slightly been hampered by injuries, but nothing that kept him from scoring 2,000 points as a Wildcat. His freshman season, he was a key contributor. He had 16 points in his Wildcat debut against MarquetteMarquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
on November 15, 2002. As a sophomore he averaged a team-leading 17.3 points per game.
Junior season
In his junior season, Ray was named second team all-Big EastBig East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
and led the Wildcats in scoring with 16.2 ppg. That year, he also led Villanova to the Sweet 16 of the 2005 NCAA Tournament
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
where they lost to eventual national champion North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
by one point.
Senior season
His senior season was arguably Ray's best season as a college player when he averaged 18.5 ppg. Villanova tied for the Big East regular-season championship with UConnUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
and split their two games with the Huskies, winning the one played at home, in what some called the biggest Villanova win in over 20 years. Their final Big East regular-season record was 14-2 in what some called the toughest conference ever. Overall, their record was 28-5. In 2006, Ray was named to the Big East first team, along with teammate Randy Foye, who was given the honor of Big East Player of the Year. Ray led Villanova to the Elite Eight of the 2006 NCAA Tournament
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
, playing in a four-guard offense with Foye, Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry is an American professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. He attended Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia where former Rocket Cuttino Mobley went. He was selected by the Grizzlies with the 24th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft...
and Mike Nardi
Mike Nardi
Mike Nardi is a 6'2" 170 lb American basketball player who attended St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey and Villanova University....
.
Eye injury
During the 2006 Big East Tournament, Ray was poked in the eye during the semifinal game against PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. His vision apparently left him for a period of time and his eyeball had seemed to come loose from the socket, leading most to believe it was an extremely serious injury. However, his vision returned and it turned out to be only soft tissue damage. He was able to play less than a week later in the NCAA tournament, without goggles. In his first game back, he led Villanova in scoring. While on the video it appeared as though his eye came loose from the socket, his eyelid actually went behind his eye giving off the impression of his eye coming loose.
Pro career
2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
, surprising many Big East fans and some NBA experts. On July 6, 2006, he was signed as a free agent by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. Ray was sent to the D-League Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
, but due to the many injuries on the team, was recalled after just two games there. During the last two months of the season, Ray began receiving extended playing time with the Celtics, and had two 22-point games and three others where he scored 20, 18 and 17 points. Ray was also fourth among rookies in three-point percentage. On July 27, 2007, Ray asked to be waived by the Celtics, in pursuit of a better contract in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Ray then signed on with the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
club Lottomatica Virtus Roma. Mid-way through the following season, after the club signed Brandon Jennings
Brandon Jennings
Brandon Jennings is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association who plays at point guard....
(whom Ray served as a mentor to), Ray left to sign a contract with Carife Ferrara for the remaining part of the season. After sitting out the 2009–10 season to recover from knee surgery, Ray signed with Sutor Montegranaro for the 2010-11 season.
In November 2011 he signed a temporary contract with BC Krka in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, but in December 2011 signed a new contract with Pau-Orthez
Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
The Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez is a French professional basketball club that is based in Pau. They play their home games at the Palais des Sports de Pau.- History :...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Family
In 2011, Allan Ray's brother, Kendrick, a 6'1" guard, verbally committed to joining the QuinnipiacQuinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
Bobcats men's basketball team for the 2012–13 season.
External links
- Allan Ray Player Profile @ NBA.com
- Euroleague.net Player Profile
- Basketpedya.com Player Profile
- Allan Ray's eye injury suffered at Big East Tournament (WARNING: Graphic content)