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Catching Up with Chania Ray
August 24, 2016 12:24 PM | Women's Basketball
Over the next few months, WVUsports.com will visit with returning West Virginia University women’s basketball players to recap the 2016 season and preview the upcoming year. This edition features junior guard and team co-captain Chania Ray.
Q: You sat out half of the season last year due to NCAA transfer rules. How did you handle that waiting time last season?
A: The transition was really rough for me, the sitting and being patient, while waiting for my time. I just wanted to be out there on the court. I was just anxious to get out there on the court. Once I was able to play, it was definitely worth it. It was fun playing with my teammates and getting a feel for the game again.
Q: How would you recap your first season at WVU?
A: I felt like I had an okay season. Sitting a year is definitely hard when you haven’t played in an actual game. It was different just to play in a real game again and get a feel for things. As a team, I felt like we had a really good year because we had eight new players. We all fit into our roles, meshed together as a unit and knew each other’s strength and weaknesses.
Q: What are you working on during the offseason?
A: I have been working on my ball handling, shooting and my pull-up jump shot.
A: I have been working on my ball handling, shooting and my pull-up jump shot.
Q: How hard is it to learn coach Carey’s physical style of defense?
A: Learning his defense is very hard. It took me almost a year to learn it. Once you get it, you want to play at that pace the whole time. Once I got it, I wanted to play fast, play hard and play the best player on the other team. Essentially, your offense stems from your defense.
A: Learning his defense is very hard. It took me almost a year to learn it. Once you get it, you want to play at that pace the whole time. Once I got it, I wanted to play fast, play hard and play the best player on the other team. Essentially, your offense stems from your defense.
Q: What did it mean to you to be named a team captain?
A: I know my basketball role on the team doesn’t change. Overall, I want to be a leader to the younger players. I want to make sure I am a verbal and hard-working leader on the court. I want to be a leader to our team in the classroom and on the court. It means a lot because people look up to me and I look up to my teammates as well. I just want to maintain the leadership I’ve shown in the past by talking, communicating and working hard. It’s very special to be named a captain.
Q: You have a long relationship with coach Diane Richardson dating back to her days as coach at Riverdale Baptist. How excited are you to have her here at WVU?
A: I was very excited when she came here. I went to Riverdale Baptist to play for her. Unfortunately, she didn’t get a chance to coach me because she became an assistant at George Washington. That was a school I was considering when I was leaving Florida State, but I decided to pick West Virginia over George Washington. Now, coach Richardson is here at West Virginia. It’s crazy how things work out and everything happens for a reason.
Q: You have been very focused academically. Why is that so important to you?
A: Academics means a lot because at the end of the day, it’ll take you farther than basketball. I am a big believer in academics. I want to be a lawyer eventually. I am maintaining good grades and doing what I can to get everything done sooner rather than later. I plan to start my master’s degree early if I can. It’s one of my top priorities to take care of what I need to take care of in the classroom.
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