After two years as a Husky, his last resulting in a first-team All-American nomination, Rudy declared for the NBA draft - accomplishing that goal he set for himself all those years ago. The next step in his basketball career came at heralded UConn under legendary head coach Jim Calhoun. He did just that, starring for Archbishop Spalding High School and leading the team to a state title. … He'd know I probably shouldn't be there, and he's just come pick me up."īefore he would star in college and the NBA, Rudy had to prove that he could be on the court with some of the best players Baltimore had to offer.
I would be across town doing God knows what and he would call me. "What he did in the city of Baltimore, he saved so many kids' lives like myself. "I wouldn't be here without him," an emotional and stoic Rudy said of Lewis.
If there was any trouble, Lewis always knew about it and would help make it right. He was the first to recognize Rudy's talent on the court, telling Rae that her son was a legit "NBA prospect" before anyone else knew what Rudy would become.Ī post shared by Rudy Gay than just recognizing talent, Lewis was someone Rudy could trust and rely on. Whether it was shooting hoops at his grandma's house or playing baseball on city-wide teams, Rudy always had something to do.īut in those rare moments where his family wasn't around, there was another person who stepped up and "saved his life."Īnthony "Doodie" Lewis was as central a figure in Rudy's life as any of his closest friends and family. His family made sure to keep him busy with sports.
So while most kids figured out life on their own in the 443, Rudy came from a family full of love and support, which ensured he didn't go down the wrong path. It just made me want to focus more on basketball." But I was just one of the ones that, no matter what, it just made me more hungry the more things got in my way. There's a lot of distractions that happen, and it got a lot of my friends. … It's not just physically, it's mentally too. "I mean, it's kind of the strongest survive. "Baltimore is a different, different kind of city," Rudy said. He was either going to accomplish his dreams and make it to the NBA, or he was going to end up in a place that he and his family wouldn't be proud of. Growing up in Baltimore, Rudy figured out early on that his life would go one of two ways. Next, it was just a matter of working hard enough to achieve that goal.
Rudy knew what he wanted to be from a young age - a professional basketball player. … I got in trouble a lot because it would hit the ceiling and we had people living above us." Sometimes at night I work on my form, just shooting the ball in the air. "I guess there are literal dreams of playing basketball or having a basketball in my hand. "I felt like early on that was my life, and I always wanted to be," Rudy said with a smile when reminded of his mom's memories. It turns out she was right - Rudy Gay is as different as they come. He would literally sleep with a basketball." "I would wake him up in the morning for school and pull the covers back, and there would be a basketball. "Once he acquired the interest, he slept with a basketball," Rae said of her son. So when Rae Gay noticed her six-year-old son sleeping with a basketball, she didn't know if he was ever going to make it big. Baltimore is known as a dog-eat-dog world where you either make it big or don't make it at all. While it's always cute to hear kids say those words, sometimes the universe has different plans - especially when growing up in Baltimore, Maryland. When most kids are growing up, they're often asked what they want to be when they're older - and you get the typical answers of astronaut, fireman, and professional athlete. "He was the blessing that we always wanted."