When Angelique “Angel” Gray came out of Middle School she was tagged with a can’t miss label and now here she is in her senior season at Stone Mountain High School and the label that was put on her then has come full circle. The 5-8 4SHOT Hoops All-Classification performer is headed off to the Univ. of Indiana after graduation. Street Talk took a trip to Stone Mountain High School before this season got underway to sit down and “Keep it Real” with Angel.

L.A.: “When you came out of middle school you had some pretty high expectations put on you, did that affect you at all coming into high school?”

Angel: “Not at all, if anything I was a little scared because I was going to come into more competition against bigger girls. You know; I was ready to come in and play and just take somebody’s spot basically, just work hard. I was ready.”

L.A.: “Had you always planned on coming to Stone Mountain to play ball because I know right now if a player has some real skills coming out of middle school different high school coaches are trying to get those players to come to their schools, did this happen to you?”

Angel: (laughing) “No not really, the plan was to go to Stephenson High School. I thought everything was all set for me to go there but you know how it is if you go to another school people are all on your back trying to see if something wrong is taking place. Stone Mountain was right down the street so we decided why not they have a great program and they have always been in the running for a playoff spot so it has worked out.”

L.A.: “The three years that you have been here the teams have come pretty close to getting to the State Finals, now this is your last year; how do you feel about this years team and do you think you all have the ingredients to get the job done?”

Angel: “Yes”

L.A.: “Come on now keep it real”

Angel: “Yes, for real. I think we can do it. Last year people were saying they lost the big girl (Christy Ingram - UAB), so we just worked harder and from the heart. I think the family atmosphere we have really helped. So this year I was thinking about getting some tee-shirts that read “No Excuses” because there really wasn’t any reason for us not to get to the state championship.” 

L.A.: “Is there a difference for you playing AAU ball verses playing during the regular season?”

Angel: “I think there is a big difference because in high school you are the go-to person you know; you are the one that has to make everything happen. On a given night in high school you are going against schools that might have 1 or 2 players that are pretty good. During AAU season or at Exposure Camps you are playing against girls that are all really good and are being looked at by everybody. The competition is way, way better in AAU.”

L.A.: “Most AAU Teams have players that play in their natural position unlike high school where most players are out of position. You play a lot of point and the 2-Guard position do you think the point is going to be your position at the next level?”

Angel: “I think so, pretty-much or the 2, most people are telling me the 1 or 2, it doesn’t really matter to me I just want to be playing.”

L.A.: “Where were some of the places you’ve played during the summer?”

Angel: “I have been to Texas, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Illinois, Louisiana every.”

L.A.: “Do you think that this kind of prepares you for the traveling that you will be doing in college?”

Angel: “Yes, it helps a lot because my body is getting use to it. But we won’t be playing like 3 or 4 games a day in college. As far as competing against the best; moving around like that helps.”

L.A.: “I noticed that in high school the tempo that Stone Mountain plays is more like come down set-up, run a play; more controlled. What style of basketball do you like to play?”

Angel: “I prefer to run, especially if you have some big people. If you don’t have big people than the advantage you have is your quickness, because some big people can’t get up and down the floor. During AAU that’s how we beat a lot of teams with our quickness, because we didn’t have a lot of big people so we ran teams and wore them down at the end. I really like the up tempo game and that’s how it is going to be in college.”

L.A.: “What has been one of the most memorable moment(s) in your career?”

Angel: “The Final Four game has been the most memorable moment, oh and beating St. Pius with Kelley Cain, she’s my girl so that was nice.”

L.A.: “Now what moment(s) would you like to forget?”

Angel: “I would love to forget the Final Four, for real and when Chris (Christy Ingram – UAB) got hit in the eye against North Atlanta, that was just crazy. That really changed the flow of that playoff game.”

Angel chills with her Mom's and younger sister Zanneta, who is a freshman player for Stone Mountain.

Angel: “Defiantly my mom and my dad, they are my biggest fans. My oldest sister Nadine Morgan who coaches at Indiana University now, she has taught me a lot of stuff. All of the coaches that I have been with, Coach Paul, Coach Mike, Coach LaBarrie, Coach Calvin Powell, Coach Sam all of them have helped me in different aspects of my game. People like Teresa Edwards and Saudia Roundtree who played in the WNBA also have helped me work on things.”

L.A.: “Who’s your favorite ball player and why?”

Angel: “Tamika Catchings, most defiantly. Her drive is so amazing, her all-around game is just awesome and she is just so encouraging. Her life story is just so great.”

L.A.: “What’s your favorite team?”

Angel: “The Los Angels Sparks, one of my favorite players for them is Christi Thomas from Georgia.”

L.A.: “Who has been the toughest player you have had to play against?”

Angel: (laughing) “Tina Charles (a 6-4 All-American out of N.Y.C.), she is unstoppable.” Oh and Elena Delle Donne a 6-4 sophomore (Ursuline Academy - Wilmington, DE) is amazing and I don’t say take a lot, we played against her at the Boo Williams Tournament in Virginia.”

L.A.: “What did you worked on this summer that is going to help you prepare for the next level?”

Angel: “My speed and my constancy shooting the ball.”

L.A.: “Now I have watched you play since you were a freshman and sometimes I think you are little too unselfish, have you ever heard that ”

Angel: (really laughing a lot) “Oh my God, I hear it all the time, people keep telling me Angel you need to take over, Angel you need to shoot there is no reason you shouldn’t have 30 points.”

L.A: “I mean I have seen you a lot and I can look at the stat sheet at the end of the game and you have 18 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and I know that the point total could easily have read 30 points. But I feel you; you play the whole game and do what your team needs you to do to win. Do you ever feel the need to just take over a game?”

Angel: “Yes most defiantly, there were a couple of times last year where I said ok, I need to just take over and I did. Most of the time I want to make sure that everybody feels like apart of the team so I move the ball around a lot.”

L.A.: “Angel, I have been watching you since you were a freshman and here you are now a senior and it’s been a pleasure. Thanks for your time.”

Angel: (big smile) “Your welcome.”

If you want to “Keep it Real" on Street Talk …holla at me

This is Larry “L.A.” Williams …PEACE!