Westchester’s Gray Gets Attention

Point guard James Gray of Westchester High might have been the best-kept secret in Southern California, but the word on him is spreading quickly after his performance during the City 4-A Division final last Friday night.

Gray dominated play at both ends of the court in scoring 27 points, grabbing 16 rebounds and getting eight assists during Westchester’s 87-71 victory over Crenshaw. The victory gave the Comets (27-2) their second consecutive City title.

During the first quarter, Gray controlled the action with seven points and five rebounds as Westchester took a 10-point lead. When Crenshaw closed to 59-53 at the end of the third quarter, Gray scored 12 points--including two dunks--and had five rebounds.

“That was probably my best all-around game at the high school level,” said Gray, who is averaging 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Gray, 6 feet 3, did not play basketball his freshman year and was academically ineligible after three junior varsity games his sophomore season. He did not begin playing for Westchester until last season and has been an unheralded leader of the team.

Coach Ed Azzam said Gray is the key to the Comets’ success.

“He was just outstanding against Crenshaw,” Azzam said. “He dominated the game, especially on the boards.

“All season he really hasn’t scored a lot of points for us,” he said. “But if he’d been more selfish he would have. He’s definitely capable of scoring, and he showed that Friday.”

Last season, Gray started at point guard and averaged 19 points. During the City 4-A playoffs, he helped Westchester upset Manual Arts in the final.

He continued to improve as a floor leader this season, and Azzam says that he is a better player, even though his scoring average dropped.

“At first when he took over at the point, it was like teaching a baby to walk,” Azzam said. “He always had tremendous skills, but he played almost instinctively at first. He has spent a lot of time learning how to control the team.”

To opponents, Gray has always been a force, but until recently he did not get much recognition outside of the City.

Recruiters have started to notice him because of his size. The senior has not exceeded the NCAA required mark of 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, but he says there are colleges waiting for him to do so.

“I do think that sometimes I have been overlooked as far as my athletic ability,” Gray said. “But I don’t try to score a lot of points. I like to be a team player, and I’m happy as long as we’re winning.”

Westchester will open the Southern Regional of the State Division I playoffs tonight against Riverside North (27-3), the Southern Section I-A runner-up, at Cal State Dominguez Hills at 8. The Comets lost to Long Beach Jordan in the opening round of the regional last season, 60-57.

After Washington High had won its fourth consecutive City 4-A girls’ basketball title, standout senior Charisse Sampson was subdued.

Even though she had had 19 points, 11 rebounds, six steals, five assists and four blocked shots, Sampson did not celebrate much after the 56-38 victory over Wilmington Banning on Friday.

Sampson says she has her sights on tonight’s Southern Regional first-round game against Lynwood.

“We’re looking forward to whoever we come against,” she said. “We feel that we have a good enough team that can win the state tournament. If we play our game, we should do well.”

Washington (28-2) lost to Palos Verdes Peninsula, the state’s top-rated team, during the regular season, but played without point guard Shakeisha Chambers. The Generals figure they will do better if they get a rematch against Peninsula.

Said Sampson, “If we are healthy, I think we can win.”

Peninsula, which won the Southern Section I-AA title, will play Granada Hills, the City 3-A champion, during the first round.