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Lighter Gray makes heavy impact
Pitt’s Aaron Gray dunks
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
Joe Starkey can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7810.
But that doesn't fully explain why the 7-foot Gray appears to be three times the player he was last season.
Gray also changed his workout and eating routines and lost 29 pounds - from 300 to 271 - after a frustrating freshman year in which he averaged just 5.9 minutes per game.
"Last year, I was like, 'Man, I can't believe I can't do this; I can't believe I can't do that,' " Gray said. "I realized a lot of my problem was the weight I put on. I've always had good skills, it's just that I've gotta be able to show
'em."
He's showing 'em this season, providing solid play off the bench for the unbeaten and 10th-ranked Panthers (7-0), who play host to Coppin State (2-6) on Saturday.
In 14 minutes per game, Gray is averaging 5.7 points, 4.7 rebounds (third on the team), a block and an assist. He leads the team in field-goal percentage (70.8 percent).
"He's getting confidence," coach Jamie Dixon said. "I think he really gives us -- between Chris (Taft) and him -- quality minutes."
Gray's turnaround began when he sat on the bench for the entire game in Pitt's NCAA Tournament loss to Oklahoma State last season. The next day, as soon as Pitt's plane landed, Gray hit the weight room with the team's strength and conditioning coordinator, Tim Beltz.
UPMC nutritionist Leslie Bonci organized a food plan to complement the workouts.
"Big people can do big things, and I mean that in a positive way," Beltz said. "Generally speaking, freshmen carry a little extra weight, a little extra body fat. It's not like we said, 'You can't eat this, you can't eat that.' It's more like, 'Let's manage our food intake and get in decent shape.' Aaron's an unbelievable worker."
An Allentown native who starred at Emmaus High School, Gray returned to Pittsburgh on many weekends last summer to work out with Beltz. He also has trained with former Pitt football player John Graham.
On weekdays, Gray participated in exclusive games and workout sessions in various Philly gyms with several 76ers and other NBA and college players.
He's been doing that the past two summers.
"There are 15 guys 6-10 or taller," Gray said. "I wound up going against (former Temple star) Ron Rollerson a lot, and he's about 6-10, 340, and he can move around."
Simply put, Gray looks like a different person. He believes the best is yet to come.
"I don't think people have seen me nearly as good as I can be," he said. "I think I'm going to continue to surprise people."
Note: Dixon said swingman Mark McCarroll, who sustained a concussion against Penn State, will be a game-time decision Saturday.
