By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ENTERING his sophomore season at the JuCo level, Sebastian Gray is expected to take on a greater leadership role with his Northern Oklahoma-Enid Jets men's basketball programme.

Gray is one of just five sophomores and is the second leading scorer of all returning players on this year's squad.

"My approach this year is way different than last year. This year I am more aggressive with scoring, rebounding and defending at a high level. I am one of the leaders of the team so I will have to lead this young group of individuals onto the right path for us to be successful," he said.

The 6'6" swingman was one of the driving forces leading the Jets to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament, where they advanced to the second round.

"One of my expectations this year is to make it back to nationals. This is a young talented group of freshmen that came in so we have a strong possibility of winning our conference so I expect big things coming from my team and me," Gray said.

He appeared in 25 games as a freshman last season and averaged 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He shot 43 per cent from the field, 75 per cent from the free throw line and 33 per cent from three.

Looking to build on those numbers, Gray expects to transition to the NCAA Division I level after a successful sophomore season.

"My recruitment has stepped up recently over the last two months. I received calls from Loyola Chicago, Mercer University, and Southeastern New Mexico. But I have two schools right now that have been more aggressive with recruiting me - Southeastern Louisiana University and Arkansas-Little Rock, which I plan to visit next month," he said.

Gray reached the 20-point plateau in three games, scored in double figures 16 times and posted six double doubles.

He returns with fellow sophomores Dyaire Holt, Denzil Haynes, Bryshon Bryant and Quincy Dockins.

Jets head coach Greg Shamburg told EnidNews.com that the team's progression to the nationals increased the profile and held recruiting, but the strength of the team will lie with its leadership of the returning players.

"[Making it to nationals] didn't hurt us obviously, but we have been getting good players. That didn't completely change. The key with recruiting is having enough money to get out and recruit. We have good freshmen," he said.

"They [Gray and the other sophomores] have done a good job leading us in the weight room and on and off the floor,'' Shamburg said. "We will be a little deeper than we were last year and more athletic. We have a chance to be pretty good.''

The Jets open the season on November 2 at Rhema Bible College.

Gray and fellow Bahamian Robert Joseph helped the Jets to a No.23 ranking in last year's tournament. The Jets scored a 95-90 win over No.10 Southern Idaho Golden Eagles in an upset win. Gray finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocked shots while Joseph added two points off the bench. In the second round, they were eliminated 82-76 at the hands of the Vincennes Trailblazers, ranked No.7 in the bracket. Gray finished with seven points and 11 rebounds.