Local Athlete: Rudy Gay

/ˈfinɒm, fɪˈnɒm/ Pronunciation Key

phe·nom /ˈfinɒm, fɪˈnɒm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ʹfee-nom, fi-nom]–noun Slang.

1. A phenomenon, esp. a young prodigy: a twelve-year-old tennis phenom
2. See RudyCarlton Gay Jr.

Not many athletes to come from this area could have been able to draw comparisons to NBA superstars at a young age. Rudy Gay did.

Ever since the Baltimore city native was a young child, it was known that Gay was destined for greatness.

Gay played two seasons of varsity basketball at Eastern Technical High School in Essex, Md. After his sophomore season, Gay transferred to basketball powerhouse Archbishop Spaulding High School. There, Gay became one of the nation’s top basketball prospects. Gay was named to first team All-Baltimore catholic league as a junior and as a senior. Gay was also honored as the Baltimore Sun's co-player of the year. He was a McDonald's All-American, and a Parade First Team All-American in his senior year after averaging 21.2 points per game, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks.

After graduation, Gay took his talents to University of Connecticut, where his talent paid instant dividends. He was a co-winner (Jeff Green of Georgetown University) of the 2005 Big East Conference Freshman of the Year award. Rudy was also named ‘National Freshman of the Year’ by The Sporting News.

In the summer after his freshman year, Gay was invited to play for the U.S.A. Men's Under-21 World Championship Team. He averaged 10.5 points a game and 5.5 rebounds. In the same summer, Gay was nominated as Big East Preseason player of the year.

During his sophomore season, Gay was one of four division one college players nominated for the Naismith Player of the Year Award. Despite not winning the award, he received many accolades that year. Gay was a unanimous choice as a first team All- Big East and All-American. He averaged 15.2 points per game during his sophomore season, leading the Huskies to a 30-3 record and a berth in the Elite 8.

Gay entered the NBA draft the next year and was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 8^th overall pick. His draft rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies the same night in exchange for Shane Battier.