Huskers Sign Talented McCray to Letter of Intent

Lincoln ? Nebraska coach Doc Sadler announced Wednesday that talented swingman Toney McCray of Missouri City, Texas, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Huskers and attend Nebraska starting with the 2007-08 campaign. 

 

“There are three things that Toney can help this team with and that we need, and that starts with athleticism and being able to really shoot the basketball,” Sadler said. “Another great thing that we’re always looking for is high character people and Toney definitely fits that description. We look forward to having him join our program.”

 

McCray will come to the Huskers after an impressive senior season at FortBendElkinsHigh School where he averaged 16 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 2006-07. He also hit 50 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free throw line according to his head coach, Albert Thomas. The 6-6, 185-pounder helped Elkins to a 31-5 record last season while winning the district title and reaching the regional quarterfinals. 

 

McCray was named the Most Valuable Player in the district, one of three players from Elkins to earn first-team all-district honors. He also earned all-region honors from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and was named to the all-tournament team at the Spring Creek Classic in Arlington, Texas. 

 

“Toney gave us a huge boost offensively because he was so knowledgeable about the game. He made coaching decisions on the floor that you can’t just teach people,” Thomas said. “He knows about the game and understands how to play to win. He is very athletic and entertaining ? he helped our team lead the area in alley-oops and received the award for the most exciting dunks several times. Toney is also a good person and that’s probably the best thing about him. He was a joy to coach and I never had one ounce of problems.”

 

McCray is the fourth high schooler to sign with the Huskers for next season and second from the state of Texas, along with forward Alonzo Edwards from Houston’s KleinForestHigh School. McCray was given a three-star designation by Rivals.com and was recently ranked the 10th best player in the state among all positions by texashoops.com. Edwards was also on the list at No. 13.

According to RCSSports.com, a recruiting service based in Houston, this is the first time since at least 2000 that an out-of-state school has signed two top-10 rated kids from the Houston area. Alonzo Edwards is ranked No. 9 and McCray No. 10 by RCS Sports.

“The biggest factor in my decision to come to Nebraska was ultimately Coach Doc Sadler,” McCray said. “My style of play really fit what he teaches. On my visit, he was really well-prepared and showed me tape and preached hard work being the key to success. I thought he had a really good way to coach. He separated himself from other coaches that I’ve visited with because he got right down to business. 

 

“I also felt that with my size, length and athleticism that I could come in and make an impact and help the team reach its goals.”

 

NU’s other high school signees for 2007-08 include Brandon Richardson (Hawthorne, Calif.) and Cookie Miller (Charleston, W. Va.), while the Huskers add three junior college transfers in Alex Chapman (Canby, Ore.), Steve Harley (Temple Hills, Md.) and Shang Ping (Harbin, China). McCray chose the Huskers after also receiving offers from Georgia, Florida Atlantic, Baylor and Washington State.