WS Chronicle

Following a stellar freshman year, Marc Raye Jr. had his eyes set on higher goals for his sophomore year. One of those goals was to hit the 1,000-point threshold before his sophomore season ended and he did just that.

Raye Jr. is the first sophomore in Albemarle High School and Stanly County history to accomplish that feat. The thought of scoring 1,000 points came to Raye as he was having a conversation with his father prior to the season getting started.

“I just wanted to make history,” said Raye Jr. “He (Marc Raye Sr.) told me that no one has ever hit 1,000 points down there in school and county history, so that pushed me to be the best and just make history. I just wanted to leave my mark on Stanly County and Albemarle.”

Raye Jr. reached his goal on Senior Night for Albemarle High, finishing the game with 39 points. The school held a brief ceremony where Raye Jr. was presented with a game ball and plaque.

Raye Jr. got off to a great start to begin the season, knowing he needed to average nearly 26 points per game to reach the mark. His father, Raye Sr., who also happens to be his coach, kept secret how close Raye Jr. was until the game before his record setting performance.

The nerves started to set in the moment Raye Jr. realized his goal was within reach. On the night of the 1,000-point game, Raye Jr. says he was okay all the way until the team began putting on their uniforms.  

“I was just like, this could really happen tonight, and I started getting nervous,” he said. “During warm-ups, I just began sweating, because I saw a lot of my family. I told my grandmother the week before that if she comes, I will get it, so she came and I had to hit it for her.”

Raye Jr. came out on a mission that evening, scoring 8 points in the first three minutes of the game. Needing only 25 points to reach the mark, Raye Jr. scored 22 points in the first half. Less than 30 seconds into the second half, Raye Jr. hit a three that gave him his 1,000th point.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Raye Jr. after accomplishing the feat. “It goes to show that you can do anything you put your mind to and don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.”

The impact his family has had on Raye Jr. has been significant. He credits them for much of his stellar play on the court.

“It’s a blessing to be playing for your dad and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am,” he said. “He’s the one that told me to stay last year and I made that decision to stay and I can’t thank him enough for that.”

The 2019-20 season did not go that well for the Bulldogs overall. For the season, the team finished with a 9-14 record and this was the first time Raye Sr. has not made the playoffs in his coaching career.

Even with the down season for the team, Raye Sr. was overjoyed with the efforts of his son and starting point guard. Raye Jr. averaged 26 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals and only 2 turnovers per game this year. With two more years left to go, Raye Sr. is confident his son has only scratched the surface of his potential and will continue to get better.

“This season just goes to show, when you have a child and you teach them to believe in themselves beyond their imagination, this is the result you get,” said Raye Sr. when asked about his son’s accomplishment. “As the season went on, I tried not to get that in his mind, but to just play a team game and let it come naturally.”

As a coach and father, being able to witness your son/player make history was something he never thought would happen, said Raye Sr.  

“When he hit the mark, he walked over and we were both crying like two big babies,” said Raye Sr. “It was a great feeling as a father and to see your son set a goal and then accomplish it, is very special. I just embraced the moment and I am happy.”

Raye Jr. has already begun to garner attention from several colleges. He is thankful to those outside of his family and his teammates that have helped him get to this point such as Eric Ambrosio, Jerran Foster, AJ Atkinson, Mike Russell, Tristen Lawrence, Richard Daniels Jr and Dairl Scott Jr, just to name a few.  

Over the next two years, Raye Jr. wants to win a state championship and try to eclipse the 2,000-point barrier.