Grant Gray in a 鈥榳in-win situation鈥� with MLB draft or UCLA
NORCO, Calif. (BVM) 鈥�Grant Gray grew up attending a lot of practices between football and baseball. Years later, it looks like all of those practices paid dividends.
Gray has been a star in both sports for Norco High School and now he could have a future in both. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound athlete is committed to play at UCLA in both sports.
He also played basketball but stopped at the age of 14.聽
鈥淚t definitely kept me in shape throughout the year,鈥� Gray said.
He did not receive much attention from colleges until the second half of his high school career. But when he did, it came in waves. The recruiting contact period opened up on Sept. 1 of his junior year and Gray talked to three schools on the first day.
commit 6'4 Grant Gray | Norco High (CA) Went CRAZY …….
— Under the Radar (@UTRScouting)
He always had the desire to play both sports at the collegiate level, and when UCLA offered him that opportunity, it became a no-brainer.
鈥淯CLA was an easy pick,鈥� Gray said. 鈥淪eeing people that have done it there in the past, seeing people that are doing it there right now like JonJon Vaughn made it an easy decision for me.鈥�
Gray always had high aspirations in athletics even before his recruitment blew up. That drive and determination are what have helped him excel thus far in his career.
鈥淚 always believed in myself when I was younger,鈥� Gray said. 鈥淚 kept telling myself to keep grinding, keep working and my time would come. It was a gradual process of trusting myself and believing in my coaches.鈥�
This past spring however made things more interesting. He began to draw the eyes of pro scouts in baseball who got to see all of his physical tools pop.
Grant Gray鈥wo-sport athlete 馃張鈿撅笍 frame and strides remind me of a young George Springer
— MLB Draft Room (@MLBDraftRoom)
Gray is now the No. 83 prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft according to .
He arguably has the best speed in the class and pairs it with the strength of his 6-foot-4, 185-pound body that is used for 50-50 balls on the football field.
Gray will now have to make another decision on his future in July.
鈥淚f the number is right, then something might happen,鈥� Gray said. 鈥淚f not, I鈥檓 kind of in a win-win situation. I still have a great opportunity with UCLA in front of me.鈥�
Another two-strike single for Norco junior receiver Grant Gray.
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer)
He has plenty of individual accomplishments to jot down on his resume, but Gray is most proud of the lasting impact he was able to make with his teammates at Norco. He was part of a league championship for the school in both sports.
鈥淭hat was a huge accomplishment for us,鈥� Gray said.聽
His goals are not set in stone due to the uncertainty of his future, but one thing is clear, he wants to be a winner wherever he is.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about getting to the pinnacle,鈥� Gray said. 鈥淚f I end up going with UCLA, I鈥檓 gonna work my butt off for the next four years. If we can bring that Pac-12 championship back to the west coast, it would be pretty cool.鈥�