Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Getting to Know Robert McCray
10/27/2021 12:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
When A.C. Flora (Columbia, S.C.) basketball coach Joshua Staley told then-sophomore guard Robert McCray that adding strength and flexibility in his hips would amplify his jumping ability, he went to work.
"When he came in, he didn't have the greatest of hips," Staley said. "He wasn't exploding out of the gym in his ninth and tenth-grade years. I told him if he got his hips strengthened and loose, he'd be jumping an unbelievable height. He has such a great amount of God-given ability. By his junior year, he was jumping like he had springs under his feet."
In large part it was McCray's athleticism that made him such an attractive target for high-major basketball programs across the country, and he finished off his high school athletic career by grabbing a state title in high jump. This summer at Wake Forest, McCray participated in the mock NBA Combine, where he logged a 42-inch max vertical leap. For comparison purposes, that would have been fourth-best in the actual 2021 NBA Combine.
"That's a testimony of him being willing to work for whatever he gets," Staley said.
Now, getting set for his first season as a Demon Deacon, McCray is furiously working on one of the perceived weaknesses in his game — long-range shooting.
"We had ACC refs on Saturday, and we scrimmaged," Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said. "So, we played 40 minutes, and he had 24 points. He made four or five threes. When he came in here, that was not his strength, but he's worked really hard at it. He's an example of a guy who got in the gym, got reps and now has confidence making that shot."
McCray had a basketball in his hand by the time he was three years old and was playing in organized leagues by the time he was in third grade. It wasn't but a handful of years later that he could tell he was getting pretty good.
He also mixed it up on the gridiron, playing quarterback as a youth and then receiver as a freshman at A.C. Flora.
"All my friends were going to basketball camps, and I couldn't really go because I was playing football," McCray said. "I needed to take basketball more seriously."
After a basketball practice as a freshman, McCray heard from USC Upstate about potentially playing at the next level.
"It felt pretty good," he said about that first contact with a college.
Wake Forest assistant coach BJ McKie, the all-time leading scorer in South Carolina history, reached out to McCray while on the staff with Forbes at East Tennessee State.
"Coach McKie talked to me every day," McCray said. "He's one of the main reasons I came to Wake Forest."
Entering his final year at A.C. Flora, McCray had the urge to rejoin the football team, but his basketball coaches and father talked him out of it.
"I was missing it," McCray said. "My dad and my coaches reminded me it was my last year and I didn't need to go out there and get hurt."
Having committed and signed to play basketball at Wake Forest with just virtual visits, McCray is getting used to the campus, classes and athletic facilities from a completely fresh perspective.
"It's way better in person," McCray said. "I didn't see all that much on Zoom. I'm almost kind of glad I didn't take a visit because everything seems so new now that I'm here. I was excited to see everything for the first time."
What's really been astounding to McCray is just how tight the team is despite only being together for a handful of months.
"The guys are cool with each other," he said. "We've gelled and bonded. Everybody is new. We're all new and we all have good character. We just fit together. It really surprised me when I first got here."
On the court, his game is evolving while being led by Forbes and his staff.
"You have to be able to do everything," McCray said. "He's a great coach. He tells me everything I need to do to see the floor, and that starts with defense."
Forbes sees the defensive potential the athletic 6-foot-4 guard brings to the table.
"I think down the road Robert McCray can be an All-ACC-level defender, especially on the ball," he said. "C'mon man, these guys are freshmen. They aren't always locked in. But on that ball? He's a problem."
Staley coached McCray all four seasons at A.C. Flora but knew him even while he was in middle school.
"He has great court vision and passes the ball well," Staley said. "He's a good catch-and-shoot guy and is a really good on-ball defender.
"Wake Forest is getting a tremendous person. He's a high-character young man. He's a very loyal and extremely hard-working young man. He attacks the process in the right way and doesn't cut corners."
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"When he came in, he didn't have the greatest of hips," Staley said. "He wasn't exploding out of the gym in his ninth and tenth-grade years. I told him if he got his hips strengthened and loose, he'd be jumping an unbelievable height. He has such a great amount of God-given ability. By his junior year, he was jumping like he had springs under his feet."
In large part it was McCray's athleticism that made him such an attractive target for high-major basketball programs across the country, and he finished off his high school athletic career by grabbing a state title in high jump. This summer at Wake Forest, McCray participated in the mock NBA Combine, where he logged a 42-inch max vertical leap. For comparison purposes, that would have been fourth-best in the actual 2021 NBA Combine.
"That's a testimony of him being willing to work for whatever he gets," Staley said.
Now, getting set for his first season as a Demon Deacon, McCray is furiously working on one of the perceived weaknesses in his game — long-range shooting.
"We had ACC refs on Saturday, and we scrimmaged," Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said. "So, we played 40 minutes, and he had 24 points. He made four or five threes. When he came in here, that was not his strength, but he's worked really hard at it. He's an example of a guy who got in the gym, got reps and now has confidence making that shot."
McCray had a basketball in his hand by the time he was three years old and was playing in organized leagues by the time he was in third grade. It wasn't but a handful of years later that he could tell he was getting pretty good.
He also mixed it up on the gridiron, playing quarterback as a youth and then receiver as a freshman at A.C. Flora.
"All my friends were going to basketball camps, and I couldn't really go because I was playing football," McCray said. "I needed to take basketball more seriously."
After a basketball practice as a freshman, McCray heard from USC Upstate about potentially playing at the next level.
"It felt pretty good," he said about that first contact with a college.
Wake Forest assistant coach BJ McKie, the all-time leading scorer in South Carolina history, reached out to McCray while on the staff with Forbes at East Tennessee State.
"Coach McKie talked to me every day," McCray said. "He's one of the main reasons I came to Wake Forest."
Entering his final year at A.C. Flora, McCray had the urge to rejoin the football team, but his basketball coaches and father talked him out of it.
"I was missing it," McCray said. "My dad and my coaches reminded me it was my last year and I didn't need to go out there and get hurt."
Having committed and signed to play basketball at Wake Forest with just virtual visits, McCray is getting used to the campus, classes and athletic facilities from a completely fresh perspective.
"It's way better in person," McCray said. "I didn't see all that much on Zoom. I'm almost kind of glad I didn't take a visit because everything seems so new now that I'm here. I was excited to see everything for the first time."
What's really been astounding to McCray is just how tight the team is despite only being together for a handful of months.
"The guys are cool with each other," he said. "We've gelled and bonded. Everybody is new. We're all new and we all have good character. We just fit together. It really surprised me when I first got here."
On the court, his game is evolving while being led by Forbes and his staff.
"You have to be able to do everything," McCray said. "He's a great coach. He tells me everything I need to do to see the floor, and that starts with defense."
Forbes sees the defensive potential the athletic 6-foot-4 guard brings to the table.
"I think down the road Robert McCray can be an All-ACC-level defender, especially on the ball," he said. "C'mon man, these guys are freshmen. They aren't always locked in. But on that ball? He's a problem."
Staley coached McCray all four seasons at A.C. Flora but knew him even while he was in middle school.
"He has great court vision and passes the ball well," Staley said. "He's a good catch-and-shoot guy and is a really good on-ball defender.
"Wake Forest is getting a tremendous person. He's a high-character young man. He's a very loyal and extremely hard-working young man. He attacks the process in the right way and doesn't cut corners."
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