Jaire Grayer is a 6-4 freshman guard on the men's basketball team from Flint, Michigan. The Grayer family is rooted heavily in the sport of basketball with both parents having standout careers in basketball. His father Jeff is Iowa State's all-time leading scorer and the 13th overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft. He was a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic basketball team and played 10 years in the NBA. His mother Patrice Martin had a standout career at the University of Detroit. Jaire is making his mark early in his collegiate career scoring in double figures on nine occasions with a career-high 23 vs. Oklahoma State (11/20). GoMason.com sat down with Jaire for a Q&A.
Q: What is a unique fact about yourself or your family?
Basketball is a tradition in my family. My dad played in the NBA after playing at Iowa State and my mom played for the University of Detroit. My two brothers both played at Midwestern State in Texas. My mom is still the seventh-leading scorer at Detroit with 1,362 points.
Q: How did you get started playing basketball?
My mom and dad would take me to the YMCA to work out when I was four or five. Stories my parents told me from their playing days made me want to keep the game in the family and keep the tradition going.
Q: What lessons did your parents teach you playing basketball?
My dad was my AAU coach until around the time I was in eighth grade. He always tried to emphasize that I stay confident in myself. He used to say “good shooters have amnesia, they forget when they miss a shot.” He also always wanted me to be prepared for every game…” Don't glow over the last game, move on to the next game and get ready for that one,” he used to say.
Q: What did your parents share from playing days?
My dad used to show me videos of him playing and dunking when I was growing up. It was interesting for me to watch him play because they played differently back then compared to how we play now. It was different in just the way my dad moved in general – the way he ran the floor, got his transition buckets and how he played defense. Shooting wise, he was a little different than I am.
Q: Did your parents tell you any good memories from their playing days?
In my dad's rookie year in 1989 he used to tell me the story of when he stole the ball from Michael Jordan when Milwaukee was playing the Bulls. He said he always studied the way Jordan played the game and watched his moves, so he anticipated what he was going to do.
My mom used to always tell me stories of how she used to check the taller girls because she was the best defender on the team.
Q: What can you share about growing up the Flint, Mich.
Flint had a bunch of basketball minds there…people from different eras that came up playing like my dad and Morris Peterson from Michigan State. Morris Peterson became one of my mentors through my dad in basketball.
Q: What is the biggest difference and transition from high school to college basketball?
In high school it was easier to score. College is much faster paced.
Q: What did you learn from IMG Academy?
I improved my strength and learned how to get to the basket better.
Q: Who is your favorite NBA player?
James Harden…I like the way he gets his buckets. He makes it so simple the way he scores.
Q: Do you have a 'Nickname'? If so, how did you get it?
Boogie…Coach Mac (dribbling coach from high school) called me that one day and it just stuck.
Q: Why did you choose Mason?
It was a great opportunity for me. I liked Coach Paulsen when he came to visit and I thought he would give me a great opportunity.
Q: If you could attend any sporting event at all, a Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Final Four, Wimbledon, etc. What would it be? Why?
NBA Finals because I've never been. I want to see what it's like.
Q: What's something you couldn't live without?
My parents for their support.
