West Allis Central’s Yusef Gray Jr. (3) elevates for two during the WIAA Division 1 boys basketball sectional final against Marquette at Racine Horlick High School on Saturday, March 9, 2024. © Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa State men’s basketball recently earned its third commitment to the 2025 recruiting class in Jamarion Batemon, and since has turned more attention to recruiting the class of 2026.
One athlete the program had on a visit last season in Yusef Gray Jr. has recently picked up an offer from Creighton and could turn into major target for the Cyclones.
“To be honest, it’s truly a blessing,” Gray Jr. said. “It’s literally like as a young kid, I saw kids in the position I’m in today, and I just always want to be like that one day. At the same time, it’s because I worked for it. So it’s really just truly a blessing. I just give all Glory to God. I’m truly thankful for every school that talks to me.”
The 6-foot-5 guard is not yet rated by 247 Sports, but has received interest from from Kentucky, Marquette and BYU, amongst others this summer.
“I mean, it did (give me confidence),” Gray Jr. said of the increased presence of the programs recruiting him. “But more than that, it gave me, like, more hunger – (I was) more hungry to work. It made me just not satisfied at all. Like, it just made me work harder. It made me push harder.”
His primary recruiter was J.R. Blount, and head coach T.J. Otzelberger has become more involved with the Milwaukee prospect.
“I’ve been loving the conversations (with Iowa State),” Gray Jr. said. “Coach T.J. (Otzelberger) is getting more involved now. He watched me over the weekend. He likes some of the little things I do, and he’s telling me to keep going and keep building.”
Gray Jr. says Iowa State likes his defense and rebounding – something that Otzelberger has utilized with his recent teams that led the Cyclones to two Sweet 16’s in the last three seasons.
“He loves how I rebound,” Gray Jr. said. “He likes how I play defense and that I’m a winner. I love to win – I’ll do whatever to win.”
The Cyclones look to be squarely in the mix with Gray Jr. as he approaches his junior season of prep basketball.
“They’ve been one of the most consistent programs out of everybody in communication with me,” Gray Jr. said.
