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 Jeray Key led Mark Morris in scoring at 15.3 points per game last season. Daily News file photo
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GSHL 2A MVP Key headed to LCC
Thursday, June 12, 2008 6:39 PM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
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E-mail this articleA defensive stopper who earned his reputation by shutting down some of the state’s top scorers on the hardwood will bring his talents to the Lower Columbia College backcourt beginning this fall.
Hard-nosed defender Jeray Key, who earned Greater St. Helens League 2A Most Valuable Player honors and led Mark Morris in scoring at 15.3 points per game, has inked a letter of intent to play men’s basketball with the Red Devils.
“LCC has the reputation as being a really good junior college in the Northwest,” Key said. “My uncle, Robert Key, also played there. I’ve known the coach (Jim Roffler), and all of that helped me to make the decision to stay home and play for the Red Devils.”
Key joins fellow MM players Jyles Peterson and Matt Trautman, Castle Rock’s Clint Burgoyne and returning players Alex King and Ryan Freeman on the 2008-09 LCC squad.
Key earned first-team all-state honors and was selected to compete in the recent WIBCA All-State Game held at Franklin High in Seattle. In addition to helping Mark Morris to a third-place finish at the Class 2A State Championships, Key was instrumental in MM winning its eighth straight GSHL title and fifth consecutive District 4 crown.
“Jeray is a mature kid who’s very strong,” Roffler said. “We’ll use him as a combo guard, but he’ll probably see more time at the point because he’s a prototypical strong guard like Deron Williams of Utah or Chris Paul of New Orleans. Because we’ll have some other wings, including redshirt Ryan Freeman, we’ll be able to give Jeray a shot at the point.”
Key likes the challenge of adapting to a new position.
“I played the point a little as a sophomore when I swung back and forth between the JV and varsity, but I didn’t do it for more than a couple of plays,” he said. “I think it’ll be a lot of fun because I like to get up the court quickly. I’m pretty fast with the dribble so I think it’ll be all right. There have been a lot of good point guards to go through LCC.”
Roffler sees Key as more than a typical point guard.
“Jeray has good strength and speed to go along with solid perimeter shooting,” he said. “He’s also incorporated some other shots as a wing at Mark Morris, where he was able to drive to the basket. I can see him using those skills at the point.”
But ever since Key became a starter during his junior year at MM, it has been his defensive prowess that’s made opposing coaches sit up and take notice.
“He takes the team MVP or all-league kid and they don’t get squat,” MM coach Bill Bakamus said. “Jeray takes defense personally. He just takes it to heart. It’s like a little part of his soul dies when the other team scores. ...That’s just part of who Jeray is as a competitor.”
During his two seasons as a full-time starter at MM, Bakamus was impressed with Key’s ability to maintain his defensive intensity in every game.
“Coaches brag about defense, but Jeray just automatically brings it to the table,” he said. “He has a calm intensity. He never relaxes or loses concentration. What he does is a constant mental and physical grind.”
Key believes his defensive ability can translate to effective play at the next level.
“I think I can defend a good NWAACC guard,” said Key, who plans to major in either business or physical education. “My role will also be to get the ball to the shooters, and I’ll also score as needed.”
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