BJ Davis-Ray Q&A

Credit: @soru503__ (IG)

After making the jump from Lake Highlands, Texas, to Link Academy in Branson, Missouri following a standout summer playing up for Team Griffin 16s, BJ Davis-Ray has quickly carved out a role on one of the absolute best teams in the country. BJ has developed into a consensus top-20 recruit in the class of 2025, and has been feilding plenty of high major interest.

BJ hopped on Zoom with Pro Insight’s Alex Brown to discuss his basketball journey, personality, recruitment, mentality, motivation, goals, and much more.

For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2025 prospect BJ Davis-Ray, from Dallas, Texas:

Pro Insight: Talk about your basketball journey — how did you get to where you are today?

BJ Davis-Ray: Man, I feel like I came up a long way with basketball, like I put in a lot of work. I started playing when I was like 6 or 7, and I played multiple sports growing up and just leaned towards the basketball way, and I'm here now.

PI: What other sports did you play growing up?

BDR: I played football and ran track. I played quarterback and receiver, and I kind of like receiving more cuz I love to catch. In track I was pretty good, I actually went to nationals a few times and medaled in multiple events.

PI: What age were you when you did that?

BDR: I've been running track since I was 8, and I had to stop when I was around like 13.

PI: What events did you medal in?

BDR: I medaled in the multis and the hurdles.

PI: What ultimately led to you choosing basketball?

BDR: I just felt like, you know, I kind of grew out of football, like I really grew out of it, like I got too long for it. I don't know, I just fell in love you know, I just always wanted to be in the gym, I love to shoot, I love to watch it as well.

PI: What are your current measurements and where does that size come from?

BDR: I'm actually I'm 6’6” with a 6’10” wingspan, and I weigh 180 pounds. I guess I get it from my mom, she's like 5’7” so her side of the family, for sure. My dad is 6’3”.

PI: How many siblings do you have?

BDR: I have two younger siblings — one boy and one girl.

PI: Are there any other athletes in the family?

BDR: My little sister, she runs track and plays basketball too. My mom was a big time track athlete, and my dad played football and basketball in high school.

PI: Let's talk about your game — what are some strengths of yours?

BDR: I feel like I'm a three-level scorer, I shoot the ball very well, and create my own shot. I feel like I can guard at a very high level, as well.

PI: How about some improvement areas?

BDR: I feel like I can get better in pick-and-roll reads, you know coming off screens with more pace and just making passes out of the pick-and-roll, for sure.

PI: What are you doing to work on those?

BDR: You know just ball handling too, you know that's very important as well, just watching a lot of film with my coaches and getting better with the little things.

PI: Do you mostly watch film on yourself or is there anyone you study or model your game after?

BDR: I do a little bit of both — like I love to watch Paul George and Devin Booker, how they create their shots and their pace, they have very good pace.

PI: What would you say are some underrated aspects of your game?

BDR: I feel like my passing, like I feel like that’s very underrated for me.

PI: How would you describe your first year at Link thus far compared to the Dallas/Texas scene?

BDR: Man, Link has got me better, like I'm learning the little things, the little details of basketball. I'm going against top guys in the country every day, so I have no choice but to get better.

PI: How have you felt playing alongside so many other high major players as a sophomore?

BDR: It's been great, I'm learning a lot from each and every one of my teammates and they're pushing me as well.

PI: Is there anyone on the team that's been a mentor to you?

BDR: Oh yeah, coaches too, but Ja’Kobe Walter, he’s been like, just watching him and playing behind him he's just, you know, he's a great mentor to me. I feel like he's showing me a lot…he guards, he does everything…he guards and he scores the ball very well.

PI: How about your experience playing up with Team Griffin 16s over the summer? How was that and how have you grown since?

BDR: That was a great experience, I really appreciate Team Griffin for letting me do that and showcase my skills. It really got me better, like getting that extra bump, playing up, and showing what I can do, like that really helped.

PI: What's recruitment looking like recently? Who has been reaching out the most?

BDR: It's been Arkansas, Ronnie Brewer has been keeping in touch with my dad a lot, and Texas as well, too.

PI: Even though it is still early in the process, what kind of fit are you looking for at the next level?

BDR: Just a fit where I won't have to change my style of play…like how I'm playing now, I can come in and play at their university.

PI: Are there any schools in particular that you would like to see get more involved in your recruitment?

BDR: Um, not really, no.

PI: How would you describe your personality?

BDR: I think I'm a pretty fun guy, and a pretty outgoing guy, as well. I love to have fun, I love to spend time with my family and friends, and I like to do all the socializing things, you know I like to have fun.

PI: So would you say you are a pretty big extrovert?

BDR: Yeah.

PI: If you had one hashtag to describe yourself, what would that be?

BDR: #KeepTheMainThingTheMainThing. You know, I don't want to sit here and lie to you, I am an introvert really, you know. So, I kind of like be to myself, you know I'm a pretty straightforward person. I like to keep the main thing the main thing, like whatever that is.

PI: Like staying focused on the goals and not being unrealistic?

BDR: Yeah.

PI: What are some of your interests off the court? Any unique hobbies?

BDR: Actually, I am a big foodie, like I love to eat. You know when I was back home during covid and everything, I had to get in the kitchen a little, so I have to cook up some things for myself. So, I guess I like to cook.

PI: That's a great skill to have. What do you like to cook?

BDR: I like to make breakfast and chicken.

PI: What motivates you?

BDR: Just my family, they push me everyday. That's my ‘why,’ really, like that I do it for them and myself as well.

PI: Who are your favorite music artists?

BDR: I am a big Lil Durk fan, that’s who I like to listen to before a game to get me pumped up. Lil Baby too, Lil Baby for sure.

PI: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

BDR: I see myself being a professional athlete and giving back to my community.

PI: What are some of your short term goals?

BDR: Short term goals for me would be just to get better, be better than I was last year, and be more efficient as a player.

PI: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

BDR: I would say, from my uncle, just keep working hard, like even through adversity, like don't change nothing up. Like whatever I've been doing to get here, don't switch it up. Like what I said earlier, just keep the main thing the main thing.

PI: Have you always been a confident person?

BDR: My confidence, I have definitely worked on that, and I feel like I am more confident in myself than I have ever been, just as a basketball player. My parents helped me with that and my uncle as well, just telling me that, you know, that I am good with whatever I am going through.

PI: Do you play video games, at all? Where would you rank among your Link teammates?

BDR: Man, I think I am at the bottom, I don’t really play the game a lot. I got to get back on it so I can get up in the ranks.

PI: Who is the best at Link?

BDR: I would say… It’s probably Jacolb [Cole], yeah Jacolb.

PI: Any books, movies, or TV shows that you’re into right now?

BDR: Whenever I have free time, I like to watch Law & Order. My teammates, try to clown me for that, so…I don’t know why, though.

PI: What do you like about Law & Order?

BDR: I just like the plot twists in there. There will be crazy stuff happening there. I like mystery, too.

PI: Do you watch any other mystery-themed shows/movies?

BDR: Not really, I like Taken as a movie though — good movie.

PI: What does ‘success’ mean to you?

BDR: It's to be the best basketball player I could be, and I just want to provide for my family and myself, as well. Just that's the main goal really, and if God blesses me furthermore, then I'll be happy with that.

PI: Say you woke up to find $10 million in your bank account — what would be your first purchase?

BDR: Man, I think I would buy a house, for sure. I'll probably get some clothes in there too, I'm not going to lie.

PI: Are you into fashion, too?

BDR: Oh actually yeah, I feel like I just got into fashion. Like, I've been wanting clothes, been saving up, looking online at the clothes and stuff, so yeah, I’m kinda into fashion.

PI: Would you consider yourself a sneakerhead?

BDR: Yeah man, I done turned into all of that.

PI: What is your favorite shoe to hoop in?

BDR: I would say right now, the G.T. Cuts, for sure.

PI: At the end of the day, what do you hope to be remembered for?

BDR: Just a guy who came in every day, worked hard, and gave it his all.