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What sold Luke Gray on signing with Oral Roberts basketball? OCS star explains Jordan Davis The Oklahoman EDMOND — Luke Gray envisioned a greater purpose when posed with a decision early in the season. The Oklahoma Christian School forward elected to bet on himself and bypass the early signing period in November. He spent weeks talking with family, friends and coaches while mulling numerous options before remaining uncommitted. Now, after choosing to play collegiately at Oral Roberts months later, Gray views the Tulsa school as the "perfect spot" for him. "Their mission is a lot like OCS, and I was very drawn to it," Gray said. "I just had a lot to do with the support system there. I want to have a lot of people who support me and what I want to do, and I feel like at ORU, that's their mission for sure." He officially signed on the dotted line of his letter of intent on Wednesday in front of his family, coaches and peers after committing to Oral Roberts on March 30. Gray, who is rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, chose to play for the Golden Eagles over Cal Poly, Liberty, UNC Greensboro, South Carolina State and Toledo, among others. He also held a host of Division-I offers in football as he was a standout tight end for the Saints. The 6-foot-8 big man was a force down low all season long, averaging 21.8 points and 11.4 rebounds to lead OCS to its first Class 3A state championship since 2007. "I feel like I can play anywhere in the country," Gray said. "This senior season showed that to many of these other college coaches. My main focus really was winning a state championship and then figuring out college later." Gray exits OCS as the program's all-time scoring and rebounding leader after passing OU great Blake Griffin in both categories in February. He embarked on a dominant state title run, which he rounded off with a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds in the state championship game. Gray was named the Class 3A state tournament's most valuable player after averaging 22.3 points and 17 rebounds over three games. Gray was named to The Oklahoman's Super 5 first team after his historic final high school season. "I've coached some other really talented athletes and usually they come with a little bit of baggage — Luke doesn't," Saints head coach Brandon Weaver said. "He's humble, coachable and a great teammate. Luke wants success for those around him, so he also wants to be a great role model. Young kids in our community and my kids look up to him, and I'm thankful for that. His impact at OCS goes beyond just athletics." While Gray is eager to make an impact early in his tenure with Oral Roberts, he has yet to allow himself to forget his journey. He endured a turbulent childhood, bouncing between foster homes before being introduced to a better life as a 7-year-old. Gray's dad, Matthew, and his mom, Rachel Davis, adopted him and his siblings while assuming the role of Luke's parents before enrolling him at OCS in the third grade. Gray says he will never forget his parents' gesture. He's now driven to use his career to show other children that they should not put a cap on their dreams. "I had a really tough childhood," Gray said. "So to be able to have other young people who have had that type of childhood see me succeed and be able to get to the next level, I want to show them that love and grace. You really can do it if you pursue your dreams. That's going to be my main drive at ORU for sure."

I very badly want this kid to have a long, fruitful career at ORU. He appears to represent everything the school stands for, and is just the kind of high school prospect that men's basketball needs to be signing in this strange, turbulent time.

ORU Shocks the Shockers in Wichita, 8-3! Looks like we are headed to Omaha afterall!

Heard this third-to-fourth hand, so take it for what it's worth: ORU is apparently VERY high on Bradyn's list. Stay tuned...

I was sure you were going to tell us you saw Hall and Oates at a skating rink in 1971.

I actually checked VerbalCommits.com for Cam's status before posting that nugget. They had nothing on Cam, but they did have Ashton-to-South-Dakota from earlier this week, so I truly thought this was...

It looks like an excellent class of young ladies. Looking forward to seeing how these ladies mesh together and pull on the rope in the same direction.

There is still a pulse in the team after all. Always a treat to win at Wichita St where they love their baseball. Let's hope this carries over to the weekend in Fargo....GO BLUE!!!

I’ve noticed a theme with the current and potential signing…they can all rebound the ball. Even Chase Martin averaged like 8 boards a game in HS as a guard.

I won 2 tickets to see BJ Thomas at Ziegfield's my first year at ORU (1979) by guessing the right Bible verse (Matt. 5:16) on a radio station question from KXOJ (Sapulpa) at 1am. Tickets were downstairs at the desk in EMR in the morning when I went down the elevator. Ticket said no jeans allowed (wish I had tickets to prove this). I had to receive permission to attend concert from my RA because event started at 10:30pm and our freshman curfew was 12am. Also, I needed to borrow a wing mate's Malibu car because we weren't allowed to have a car the first year (as I recall...it's been a while).

Congratulations to Francis! This news deserves it own thread once the Paris Olympics grow closer...

I'll say this about young Mr. Gray: he's literally a poster child for this season's promotional materials. Clean cut, good-looking, built like a Greek statue, no body ink - he even has a grown-up haircut. I'll bet he even somehow manages to keep his jersey tucked in!

As the great Moses Malone said in a Nike ad "I figure, if you ain't got the ball, you can't shoot the ball"

HAHAHA!!!....honestly never saw Hall and Oates but TheEagleman sure wishes he had.....Philly boys who hit the big time....now I hear they are no longer friends or speaking and in litigation over song rights.....so not gonna see these boys in concert any time soon short of a kiss and make up session.....gotta love Sarah Smile and Kiss on My List.....

TheEagleman was a huge fan of Mylon Lefevre and Broken Heart back in the day.....saw them at a small venue in Allentown PA and sat on the front row...this would have been late 80s....right before his heart attack that forced his retirement.....great Christian Band arguably best of all time which is another discussion....Mylon could preach and rock it up.....saw him multiple times in the 80s in Trenton, NJ at a smallish theatre.....he passed away last fall at like 78 yrs old.... RIP Mylon.....More of Jesus....Less of Me.......

Been there. Done that.

You can do that because ESPN+ posts replays very quickly unlike the SLN which, to put it bluntly, stinks. Currently workshopping an email to Commissioner Hockey on this topic.

Good guys jump out to a 6-0 lead in the 2nd inning at Wichita State with SEVEN hits, including a grand slam from lead-off DH Alex Rodgers (his first dinger of the season). That's ORU's first lead in 23 innings (since the 4th frame Friday night vs. St. Thomas) and their largest lead since Sunday, April 7th at Northern Colorado (a 15-8 Golden Eagle win). Left fielder Sam Thompson with the dubious distinction of making two of the three Golden Eagle outs in the inning as they sent 11 batters to the plate.

So... the women's team has finished recruiting for next season! Here's hoping these players work out extremely well. https://oruathletics.com/news/2024/4/17/womens-basketball-oruwbb-finalizes-2024-freshman-recruiting-class.aspx

Any chance ORU can get Hank Voight on staff of Men's Basketball....TheEagleman thinks that Hank would certainly help motivate the squad to have a more physical presence.....and if a player doesn't consistently box out or rebound then he gets a ride to the silos and is never seen again......

Definition in Fargo for "anticipated cold temperatures": 40 degrees with 20+ mph winds (according to Weather.com for 3:00 pm Friday)

This is always good news for the Friday game, that means I get to watch baseball at work!

I was a valet at Ziegfield's one summer in high school, so I saw a bunch of fading Vegas-style acts in that venue. I think that little cinder block building on the southeast corner of 71st & Sheridan is now a hospice facility. Talk about irony: "Acts check in, but they don't check out!" P.S. Very jealous that you saw David Byrne & Co. at "Tulsa's Timeless Little Honky Tonk". Add them to a long list of "Wish I'd Been There!" acts who have played "The Cain's" on their way up: The Police, U2, The Ramones, Van Halen, Foo Fighters, The Pretenders, etc.

Yeah.....this was discussed about four pages ago. Keep up OT! Don't make me pull out my circling finger picture again!

Luke seems like a great guy and good pickup, but we may need to pump the brakes on even mentioning his name in the same sentence with an ORU legend like Caleb. I’m excited to have him at ORU(welcome Luke if you see this!!) but let’s give him the chance to create his own path and name.

That's 10 NCAA hockey titles for Denver....TEN......forget basketball and baseball.....maybe ORU should turn Mabee Center into a rink and we take up hockey.....that might be very interesting....eh?!?!?!? PS...When TheEagleman lived in Tulsa we used to love to drive into town to the old Civic Center and watch the Tulsa Ice Oilers play....I was there with several buddies including two ORU basketball players the night the Oilers won the Central League title over the Dallas Black Hawks probably 1974 or 1975....really good memories!!