Bracey Wright

6/22:
http://schoolsports.com/article.asp?girls=girls&spcatid=&ArticleID=25611&RegionID=22

6/8: "Three weeks ago, The Colony High (Texas) junior Bracey Wright was ready to pull the trigger and commit to the University of Tennessee. Then he heard about the Vols’ point guard situation.
Wright isn’t a point guard, but he is one of the few players around who has placed an emphasis on having someone steady to run the show. He still likes Tennessee and new coach Buzz Peterson, but he wants to find out who’s going to be leading the team. “I heard they were signing a junior college point guard and I don’t know anything about him, so I’m going to hold off,” says the 6-foot-3, 180-pound shooting guard, who is rated the No. 12 recruit in the Class of 2002 by SchoolSports.com. Wright recently took a trip to Indiana for the Bloomington Classic and came back with a new favorite: Mike Davis’ Indiana Hoosiers. “Right now my leader would be Indiana,” adds Wright, who took the University of Texas off his list because he wants to go out of state. “They have a point guard from New Orleans who’s supposed to be real good, and they really need a two-guard. I never thought I’d be saying Indiana.” Other schools actively pursuing Wright include Notre Dame, UCLA, Louisville, Maryland and Kentucky. Arizona stopped calling shortly after signing combo guard Chris Rodgers. However, the rest of Wright’s top five are Kentucky, UCLA and Maryland. One player Wright did express interest in playing with is South Carroll High (Md.) junior point guard Marshall Strickland, who is also being recruited by Indiana. “I’m trying to get him in with Tennessee,” says Wright. “If they land him, there’s a good chance I’d get there.” - School Sports

5/28: "Who's the most explosive scorer in Bloomington this weekend? It almost has to be Bracey Wright, the 6-3 WG from The Colony (TX) High, who almost single-handedly led his team to an overtime win over the DC Blue Devils in his first game with Team Texas Red. Wright's athleticism and shooting ability earned him a spot among the top-10 rising seniors in PrepStars.com's spring rankings; on Saturday he backed up the hype. Bracey scored 37 points against Jarrett Jack and the Devils, drilling three-pointers from all angles on the floor. When crowded by talented wing Chris McCray and others, he blew past them and pulled up for beautiful hanging jumpshots or attacked the rim for a dunk. (snip) "Right now my list is UCLA, Maryland, Tennessee and Notre Dame," Wright said. "And Indiana and Louisville have just started to get involved." Wright won't completely rule out other schools, but he's uncertain if anyone else can get involved seriously this late in the process. As for in-state Texas, things don't sound promising. "Right now I'm looking toward leaving the state for school," Wright said. He plans to take his official visits in the fall before making a decision." - PrepStars

5/22:
http://www.bluechiphoops.com/20010522-3.html

5/14: "The Colony (TX) High 6-3 PG Deron Williams is going to merit some seriously high consideration in the Class of 2002 rankings. He is a big-bodied point who plays the game under the control and seems to make the right decisions at the right time for his Fort Worth Lions AAU club. He teams with Team Texas superstar Bracey Wright in what might be the top high school backcourt in the country next year." - PrepStars

5/9: #19 Junior. "One of the most offensive-minded prospects in the class. Has no fear when it comes to getting his shot off and will be a double-digit scorer immediately." - Sporting News

5/7: "Bracey's exploits have been well publicized here and he showed tremendous flashes. Team Texas offense is pretty much give the ball to Bracey or Dallas Lincoln sensation 5'10 PG Brian Hopkins and let them create. Without his running mate who was home nursing a groin injury he was subjected to constant double teams, run ragged, and forced into bad shots. Despite that he still got 25 and looked good doing it. He is a tremendous athlete who is at his best when he gets to the hole and creates space to release his jumper. Bracey did at times look tired and often took quick off balance shots rather than working for an open look. Bracey is now listing UCLA among his leaders and is the top priority for Rick Barnes and his Texas staff." - Phog.net

5/4: "An electrifying scorer, Wright possesses all the shooting and ballhandling tools of an elite wing player, quick first step, can shoot off the dribble, potentially a very good perimeter defender, range to three-point distance" - PrepStars

5/1: "Texas is really in there strong as they have been with the in-state kids since Barnes' arrival. If there is a school to beat entering the spring period, it's very likely that school is the Longhorns." - Dave Telep

4/25: "The man with the total perimeter game. Wright can stroke the trey from China and he can shake defenders off the dribble so bad, that we feel sorry for them. He scores how and when he wants to. He may be the closest thing to Joseph Forte on the high school level, and he might be an even better shooter than Forte. He's getting recruited by everyone to some extent. Schools like Texas, Kentucky and Kansas are the first ones he mentions, usually." - High Major Hoops (2 to 1)

4/24: Listed as the 14th best overall player in his class. "Texas is the heavy favorite for Wright, with Louisville, UCLA, Tennessee, Maryland, and Notre Dame." - HoopScoop

4/19: "I spoke with Bracey Wright's high school coach, Coach Thomas, at The Colony High School and he said that Bracey is quite interested in KU despite the recent reports. Wright, who plays summer ball with KU signee Keith Langford, gained interest in KU when Langford signed, but both Wright and Langford have said that their decisions will be independent of each other's. Coach Williams has been to see Bracey quite a few times this year. He already played in the Boo Williams tournment a couple of weekends ago and his camp card for the rest of the summer is full. Coach Thomas said that Bracey had not decided what schools he would visit." - JayHawkTalk

4/10: ". The 6-4 WG from The Colony (TX) High was a shooter -- and then some -- Friday night. He showed off a sweet stroke from deep, middle, and close range en route to a captivating 32-point performance. Word was that he slowed down a bit later in the weekend. But Wright was awesome. He's an elite high-major prospect through and through." - PrepStars (Boo Williams Tourney notes)


4/9: "Wright is a very good offensive player. He's added a little drive to his game and is hitting some medium-range jumpers these days. He struggled from downtown in the game we watched, buy you know he has it in him. Wright gets to the line at a pretty good rate so that's a sign he's rounding out his offensive package. We'd like to see him contribute a little more on the defensive end. He's being recruited at the highest possible level." - Rivals100Hoops

3/31: "Cincy is interested in Bracey Wright from Texas, who was an AAU teammate of Jason Maxiell." - Bullseye, AllStar Report (1 to 2)

3/31: Listed as the ninth best player in the country, Class 2002. - MidWest Hoops

3/25: "Yes, he can create his own shot, and yes he is a good athlete capable of guarding opposing off guards. I suspect he is more of a shooting guard then a three at this stage. Yes, I think the Bruins have a real shot at landing this kid, though bear in mind, Rick Barnes is coming after this kid EXCEPTIONALLY hard." - ACC Recruiting Update

3/22: "Bracey's effective shooting range extends well beyond the current three point arc. During his junior campaign, Bracey was successful on 46 percent of his three point field goal attempts. Meanwhile, his percentage inside the arc approached numbers (65 percent) normally associated with low post players who operate within several feet of the cup. Exceptional field goal accuracy from the floor allowed the 6-4 sniper to average 21.6ppg this season, though his rebounding (6.1rpg) and assist (2.6) totals suggest he is far from a one dimensional "spot up" shooter. Yesterday, ACC Recruiting spoke to the lethal Texan about the present state of his recruitment. Bracey expressed interest in Texas, UCLA, Arizona, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Kentucky. According to Bracey, the following programs- Texas, UCLA, and Kentucky- hold a slight lead over the remaining schools on his early list. When asked if he would like to offer an early commitment, Bracey responded, "If I don't commit in July, I will wait and take my visits." - ACC Recruiting Update

3/22: "Bracey expressed interest in Texas, UCLA, Arizona, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Kentucky. According to Bracey, the following programs- Texas, UCLA, and Kentucky- hold a slight lead over the remaining schools on his early list. When asked if he would like to offer an early commitment, Bracey responded, “If I don’t commit in July, I will wait and take my visits.” Bracey maintains a 3.0 GPA , and he has already qualified on the ACT examination." (Bracey's father is the all-time leading scorer in the history of Southern Methodist basketball.) - ACC Recruiting Update

3/16: "Maybe next year for Bracey Wright. Despite 23 points per night from the talented junior WG, The Colony came up a little short in its bid to win a state championship. "It was real tough, harder than I thought it would be," Wright said of his quest. "We ran with basically all guards this year." The good news for Wright is that he'll have another year to try and nab the top spot in Texas. The bad news for college recruiters is that he won't be eligible to attend college until the fall of 2002. Meanwhile, some of the nation's elite are chasing him. Among those schools currently on Wright's list are Texas, Tennessee, Notre Dame, UCLA and Kentucky. Wright says all have offered except for Tennessee. "I see myself making a decision toward either the end or middle of July," Wright said. "If I feel confident that I am going to have a choice by then I'll do it, but if I don't I'll wait until the signing period." Wright's list certainly takes him on a tour of the nation. Here's what he had to say about the school's involved.

On UCLA: "I like coach Lavin. I like the style they play and I think I fit in at UCLA."

Texas: "It's not too far [three hours to be exact], but still far enough. I've known the coach for three years now and I've been all over their campus. I know a lot of the players."

Notre Dame: "It's a school that I've always liked. I just liked the school in general. I think he's a pretty good coach."

Kentucky: "I mean what can you say about them? They have a rich tradition and coach Smith came to see me play."

Tennessee: "Tennessee is like somewhere that I could just see myself playing. They are kind of up and down. But, coach Green let's them play and make mistakes and learn from them." Wright is likely to attend the Nike All-American Camp and play this spring and summer for Team Texas Red, the AAU program he's traveled with the last few seasons. Lately, he's been busy watching the NCAA Tournament. His pick? "I think Stanford wins it. They can play and Casey Jacobsen is real good. Real, real good." Guess what? So is Bracey." - Rivals100 Hoops

3/10: "The Colony shooting guard Bracey Wright had just one field goal in the second half. And point guard Deron Williams had 11 turnovers. Almost half of Bryan's rebounds, 17 of 36, were on the offensive side. With The Colony lacking true post players, a beefy Bryan team took advantage by going inside. "I never thought they'd come back," said Wright, who finished with a team-high 20 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Williams added 16 points, seven rebounds and eight assists." - Dallas News

3/5: "Averaging 20.9 points per game and shooting nearly 59 percent from the field, it seems every week is a great one for The Colony's Bracey Wright. But even with that, the junior shooting guard managed to outdo himself last week. Wright scored eight points with just more than one minute left in the game to erase a seven-point deficit and stun Cedar Hill, 66-61, on Tuesday in the Class 5A Region I quarterfinals at SMU's Moody Coliseum. Wright finished with 30 points on 10-for-17 shooting.

On Friday in the semifinals, Wright grabbed six rebounds and scored 34 points, making 13 of 20 attempts, as The Colony beat Odessa, 75-60. The next day in the final against Duncanville, Wright was limited to 12 points. But he scored 10 points in the second half as The Colony went on to beat Duncanville, 77-63, and will play Bryan (32-2) in the state semifinals at 3:00 p.m. Friday at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.

For his performances, Wright is The News' Player of the Week. Wright, one of three juniors who start, gushed after beating Duncanville that he likes what he sees in the future for The Colony (32-1). "This is the first step for us in a lot of great things to come," Wright said. "I know we'll be right back in the same place next year."

The Colony will need Wright against Bryan, which won the Region II championship. "His confidence factor is so high right now," The Colony coach Tommy Thomas said. "There's a reason he's ranked the No. 1 junior in the state [according to Texas Hoops recruiting newsletter]. We believe every time he shoots it, it's going to go in." - Dallas Morning News

3/3: "Paced by guard Bracey Wright's 34 points, The Colony raced to an early double-digit lead for an eventual 75-60 win over Odessa in the Class 5A Region I semifinals on Friday night at the Chaparral Center. The Colony (31-1) will play Duncanville, a 56-34 winner over El Paso Montwood, in the regional final at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Chaparral Center. Wright, a junior off-guard, had 14 points in the first quarter against Odessa, which struggled from the start to keep up with The Colony's athleticism." - Dallas News

3/1: "The Colony (TX) 66-61 over Cedar Hill (TX) in a Region I quarterfinal playoff game. Junior guards Bracey Wright and Deron Williams combined to score 11 points in the final 1:16. Wright finished as the high man for The Colony (30-1), scoring 30 points on 10 of 17 shooting." - AllStar Report

2/25: Listed as the 4th best SG in the country, regardless of class. He was one of only 2 juniors in the top 10. - MidWest Hoops

2/13: Number one junior in the southwest - Brick Oettinger

1/28: "Wright is having a terrific season, as is The Colony. He is averaging 20.7 points (49% 3pt) and 5.7 rebounds for the 22-1 Cougars." - UNCBasketball.com

1/23: Listed as the best player in texas in his class. - TexasHoops

1/18: Wright is currently 8th in the city in scoring with an average of 21 ppg. He is the teammate of another Bearcats target Deron Williams. Also, Wright is shooting 51% from the trey line. The Colony is the number one offense in the city scoring 75 ppg as a team. The Colony boys are 19-1 overall and ranked No. 2 in DallasNews' Class 5A area poll. - Mike Ryan

1/3/01:
http://www.uncbasketball.com/stories/010301_wright.shtml
"Tennessee & Seton Hall are my favorites."
see article for direct quote.

1/3/01: Listed as the 5th best SG in the USA, in the 2002 class. - Ohio Preps

12/29: "Bracey Wright poured in 27 points as The Colony (12-1), ranked No. 5 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 5A state poll, overwhelmed Bowie 74-55 in pool play at The Colony High." - Ft Worth Star Telegram

12/14: "An athletic guard with excellent range on his jump shot, Wright's strong play has helped lead The Colony (TX) to a 10-0 start. Question: Name the top high school backcourt in the nation. Answer, well that depends. Some would say that Oak Hill's Rashaad Carruth and Billy Edelin are tops, and others might argue that Willowridge's Terrance "TJ" Ford and Daniel Ewing would receive the honor. While both of those tandems are worthy of consideration, a case could also be made for Bracey Wright and DeRon Williams. Wright is a 6-3, 180 lb., WG who attends The Colony HS in The Colony, Texas. Bracey's team is currently ranked the No. 2 Class 5A team in the state of Texas, behind only Willowridge High. The Colony has started its season with 10 straight wins, including a recent championship victory at the Elite 8 Tournament in Dallas, where Wright took home MVP honors. In the championship final against Jesuit High, Bracey tallied 28 points. During that same event, Wright had the opportunity to face future Kansas Jayhawk Keith Langford and his North Crowley squad. With Kansas coach Roy Williams in attendance, Wright scored 20 points and pulled down 9 rebounds, while Langford scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. The Colony won what those in attendance called the best tournament matchup, by a score of 70-65. Through ten games Wright is averaging just over 21 points per game. (17, 30, 21, 10, 28, 16, 20, 24, 20, and 28) A great run and jump athlete, Bracey is an excellent long-range shooter (44% from three-point range as a sophomore) who excels in transition. His jump shot continues to get better and his solid ball handling skills allow him to take his man off the dribble and be effective. Defensively, Wright plays good on the ball defense and has shown that he can force his opponent into committing turnovers. This summer Wright was one of the top underclassmen who competed at the Nike All-American Camp. He has received early interest from Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas, CINCINNATI, North Carolina, Arizona, and a number of other high major programs. According to various reports, the first three schools mentioned have already offered a scholarship. Sources close to Wright also inform us that he plans to make a decision at the end of his junior season." - All Star Report

12/12: "Elite Eight Tourney: Bracey Wright Interview
Interview conducted after 1st game of Elite Eight Tournament at University of Texas at Dallas, after defeating Lancaster (TX) Tigers, 64 - 46.

UNCBasketball.com: Congratulations on the great game, Bracey. Who's been in contact with you since Thanksgiving [since our last UNCBasketball. com interview]?
BW: Carolina, Duke, Texas, Arkansas, Arizona.

UNCBasketball.com: What are your thoughts on Matt Doherty and the coaching staff at Carolina?
BW: Matt Doherty is a real good coach. I like him. I like the way he lets his players play and all of that. He's a very good coach.

UNCBasketball.com: Have you been able to talk to him yet?
BW: No, not yet.

UNCBasketball.com: Have you been offered any scholarships yet, Bracey?
BW: Texas, Illinois, Arkansas.

UNCBasketball.com: I see Coach Barnes [Texas} is here to see your game today . . . It must be a pleasure playing alongside Deron Williams.
BW: We grew up playing together, back in middle school and it's surely good, playing with him.

UNCBasketball.com: Tell me again what your timetable is for making a decision.
BW: the end of this year. the end of my junior season.

UNCBasketball.com: What position do you see yourself at, naturally?
BW: The "two" -- the 2-guard.

UNCBasketball.com: I was wondering if you were considering playing point at all, because of your good handle?
BW: If I have to, then I will.

UNCBasketball.com: Who do feel like, at this point, is really targeting you?
BW: Texas is [targeting me] the most.

UNCBasketball.com: What are you looking for in a college program?
BW: Playing time. Just a good organization to play in and people that make me feel welcome.

UNCBasketball.com: Will you take any unofficial visits to North Carolina?
BW: I'm going to try.

UNCBasketball.com: How about on the pro level?
BW: Ray Allen. I like him. I try to do the things he does.

UNCBasketball.com: What kind of tempo do you prefer in a game?
BW: I like the run and jump game. I like the fast tempo, you know-running up and down the floor.


12/12: "His range is limitless, he's just a great shooter," gushed The Colony (The Colony Texas) head basketball coach Tommy Thomas about star off guard Bracey Wright. The 6-3 perimeter marksman averages 21.3ppg and according to Coach Thomas, has expressed interest in Kansas, Texas, Cincinnati, Arkansas, and Utah amongst others." - ACC Recruiting Update

10/00: Texas Hoops had Deron Williams and Bracey Wright ranked as the Number One and Number Two best players in the state. By comparison, former Bearcat targets Dan Ewing (Duke) and TJ Ford (Texas) are ranked #1 & #2 in the >senior< class in this listing. Jason Maxiell is third. - Mike Ryan