Normally an assistant coaching hire by the UCLA Bruins basketball team wouldn't be a major story in the state of Georgia. However, when the assistant coach in question is former Atlanta Celtics CEO Korey McCray, then Mark Fox and Brian Gregory had better at least take notice. After all the Atlanta Celtics are one of the top AAU Basketball programs in the nation whose alumni includes the likes of Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Amare Stoudamire.
The timing couldn't be any more perfect for UCLA with three Georgia high school players being ranked in the top 20 nationally. Those players are Shaq Goodwin from Southwest Dekalb, Tony Parker from Miller Grove, and Robert Carter from Thomasville. AJC recruiting expert Michael Carvell reports that 11 Georgia high school players signed D1 scholarships this past season. He says that as many as 25 have high D1 offers already.
With his AAU success, a coach like McCray will be successful recruiting in many areas but you would also expect him to know the Atlanta area the best which is also a key recruiting area for both Georgia and Georgia Tech. McCray leaves little doubt in his intentions.
With a school like UCLA, I feel like you can get talent from anywhere. But I'm definitely going to recruit Georgia schools."