He is a leading scorer with a rating of 12.5 points per game.
That is what Tyler Junior College basketball player Brad Gay accomplished during the 2008 season. Gay is a sophomore at TJC and a returning player for Coach Mike Marquis and the Apache basketball team. Gay plays the 2 and 3 lanes, also known as wing.
“Brad was a starter for us last year and lead us overall in scoring with about 12.5 points per game,” said Coach Marquis, Tyler Junior College men’s head basketball coach.
Gay moved to Tyler from Houston where he went to high school at Fort Ban Marshall and graduated in 2008.
“I love going to TJC. The coaches are great, and it’s quiet and a good place to go, too. I came here because it was the best fit for me. Coming here made me feel like being back home with my family,” Gay said.
With Coach Marquis leading the team Gay couldn’t feel any better.
” I love Coach Marquis to me he’s not just my coach but he’s more like a father and you can’t get that at most places. I can call him any time and talk about anything.
Gay said he loves playing basketball at the junior college level.
” I feel like there’s a lot of competition here,” he said.
After having a great season in 2008, Gay’s hopes for accomplishments this season are to get to Hutch and win the National Championship. Gay works hard every day for this goal. During his free time he is usually with the team working out or spending time with them to bond.
“We’re all like a family. Last year it took a while to get like this, and I feel that could be a difference in us having a better season this year,” Gay said.
Gay is going to school for business marketing and minoring in accounting, where he plans to be a sports agent. When he graduates from TJC, he hopes to get a scholarship to a Division I college and further his basketball career and education.
“I think he’s definitely going to get a chance to play in Division 1. In fact, we have 6 sophomores and by the time we get to April, I wouldn’t be surprised if they all got offered a full divisional scholarship.” Marquis said.
