The prestigious Pangos All-American Camp, an invite-only event featuring the top high school prospects in the nation, returned this summer after it was cancelled due to the pandemic last year. Pro Insight was on hand to evaluate the event and caught up with Gradey Dick of Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) and KC Run GMC (KS). Dick was selected to the Top-30 Cream of the Crop Game and finished 7th overall in scoring at 16.5 points per game over four contests. A good three-point shooter with an underrated bounce, he also showcased the ability as an offensive threat who made plays for others averaging 3.0 assists, as well.
As part of the Pro Insight Q&A series, Dick reflected on his junior year at Sunrise Christian Academy, his current favorite movie, his excitement about playing in the Allen Fieldhouse, and more.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present Kansas commit Gradey Dick, from Wichita, Kansas:
Pro Insight: What's been your impression of Pangos All-American Camp?
Gradey Dick: It’s been great. Obviously with COVID taking away the past couple months and way before that, just to finally get up and down the court after kind of that period of time, it's just good to get back into it, and then just kind of build off on that after this weekend.
PI: Who have you enjoyed playing with on your Pangos team?
GD: Probably my guy Layden [Blocker]. He's actually transferred to Sunrise [Christian Academy] so he'll be a junior there next year. So kind of just building that bond before we get to Sunrise is huge. Not that many guys get that, so it’s just cool to build that here.
PI: Describe last season where you made it to the GEICO Nationals Championship game.
GD: The whole year was a ton of fun, but obviously for me personally, it was all different stuff coming from kind of a small local high school and then playing the top competition in the nation, which is huge. And the guys like Kendall [Brown], Kennedy [Chandler], Zach [Clemence] — all of them and just kind of to getting to know them. I kind of knew them before the season so that just helped our team that much more to get to the end. Obviously, not the way we wanted to end it. But yeah, the whole season was still a great accomplishment and hopefully next season we can get back.
PI: Talk a bit about your background. How did you get into basketball?
GD: For sure my family. I have three other siblings that all play, so I’m the youngest of four. And I’d probably say my mom. She actually played at Iowa State and then professionally in Japan before the WNBA, so she kind of taught me all the basics when I was younger and just kind of put the ball in my hands at that early age.
PI: Are you the tallest in your family now?
GD: I am. I am now (laughs). Both my brothers are like 6’4 and 6’5 so I finally got them.
PI: What are your current measurements?
GD: 6’7, probably 200 pounds.
PI: What are your biggest interests outside of basketball?
GD: Just watch movies, listen to music, kind of the basic stuff. I like to fish and swim, just all that.
PI: What's your favorite movie right now?
GD: For sure I need to get to the new Conjuring — The Conjuring 3. My favorite is those types of scary movies so I'm trying to get to that when I get back home in the theaters.
PI: For those who aren’t familiar with your game, describe your biggest strengths.
GD: I would say my versatility is kind of my big thing. I feel with my game right now and in the future just the way I can kind of have the length to score in multiple different ways and guard multiple positions due to my length. And then I would say people kind of don't really see my bounce that much because they kind of see like the white dude, the white boy so I like to surprise them with that too.
PI: What are you looking to improve this summer?
GD: Just all these workouts that I'm building on [and] all these camps, I feel I can always get my defense better because that's something I can always build from just kind of guarding the one-through-four positions like I said before. And just obviously my handle — get a more tight handle so I can be versatile at that too. And kind of bringing the ball up the floor if I need to. And just scoring.
PI: Who do you model your game after or try to study on film?
GD: Like all-time guys, I like Tracy McGrady. I like the way he plays. But these playoffs I've been watching this year, a lot of Paul George and his versatility. I can see how he uses his length to not only defend, but score in multiple different ways.
PI: How has your experience been with KC Run GMC?
GD: It's been a ton of fun just to get back with my guys in the summer. Yeah, we had those two quick tournaments at the start and then our session I think starts in like two weeks or something like that. But we have a great team. Obviously, one of the other top guys, five-star Mark Mitchell [Jr.], he came out in the first tournament with something with his elbow so he'll be out for the summer. That kind of sucks. But yeah, other than that, we have a ton of guys that can come up and fill those shoes and I know they’d love to, so we got a good team coming. (Note: KC Run GMC went 15-2 on the UAA circuit and lost in the circuit’s quarterfinals)
PI: What are you most looking forward to when you get to Kansas?
GD: Obviously, the coaching staff and to build with them. And then I think the fun aspect is just being on the floor in front of Allen Fieldhouse and seeing that crowd and being on the floor and actually playing in front of them, and having all the adrenaline rush with them. So I feel like that's gonna be a ton of fun.
PI: At the end of the day, what do you hope to be remembered for?
GD: I know it might just be a cheesy answer, but it's just to be the best basketball player that I can be personally on and off the court. It's just what’s huge because when I'm done with this, I want people to remember me for how I was off the court too. So just to be a good person.