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We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Hofstra SR G Jalen Ray. He started 33 games last year, scored a career-high 27 PTS in a win at UCLA, and made the CAA All-Tourney team. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jalen about being a great 3-PT shooter and his expectations for this year.
You were born/raised in Hampton, VA: what made you choose Hofstra? My recruiter is from Hampton. I felt that it was time for me to move away and focus on something else: I like my hometown but there are a lot of distractions. The academic part of Hofstra and the coaching staff are both great.
You play for Coach Joe Mihalich: what makes him such a good coach? He believes in his players and has a lot of trust in us: he is a great leader.
You started 1 game as a sophomore and 33 games as a junior: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? When you are a starter you need to be able to play with the right tempo from the opening tip.
Last November you scored a career-high 27 PTS in a 10-PT win at UCLA: was it just 1 of those situations where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I just felt comfortable out there and knew that I could do whatever I tried to do. I got some good shots early and everything was falling.
Last March in the CAA tourney title game you scored 17 PTS/3-6 3PM in a 9-PT win over Northeastern and made the CAA All-Tourney team, then learned a few days later that the NCAA tourney was canceled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? At 1st I did not like the news because we had finally made it over the hump to win the championship game. Looking back on it now, I think it was a good decision to cancel for both health/safety reasons.
You have shot over 39 3P% during each of the past 3 years and made a pair of game-winning threes as a freshman in the closing seconds against Monmouth and Towson: what is the key to making shots from behind the arc? Balance is everything: you also need confidence in your shooting ability.
You graduated a pair of sensational senior guards in Desure Buie/Eli Pemberton: how on earth will you try to replace all of their offense/leadership? We have a lot of new players this year but it will be the same as it has been in the past: next man up.
Your brother Lavell ran track at George Mason and your sister Chantel runs track at Ohio State: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say that I am the best all-around athlete but both of them can beat me on the track.
What is it like to be an African-American man in 2020? You may wake up feeling great but you never know how the day will play out. I just try to make it through each day and not fear for my life.
What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? Same as last year: we want to win back-to-back championships despite losing some good players.