Everett, Gray Named Heritage High Athletes of the Month

Heritage High School Athletes of the Month Rayquan Everett and Myasia Gray are presented their awards by Larry Nemelka of REMAX/Diamond Realty, sponsor of the award.

Basketball players Rayquan Everett and Myasia Gray have been selected the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month for January representing Heritage High School.

Everett, a 6-foot-2 forward, is just a freshman for the Patriots' boys basketball team, which has struggled this season. With a team lacking height and in a rebuilding mode, Everett said he has worked hard to play a key role in the first of what will be four years on the varsity squad.

"We show a lot of effort, but some games don't come out the way we want them to," he said. "We're a little smaller than the rest of the teams in the league, so it's difficult for us.

"We all get along really well, though. Right away when I got on the varsity team, they accepted me and I fit right in."

Last fall, Everett was the quarterback of the freshman football team, which preserved an undefeated season with a triple overtime victory over Lakeside in the season's final game. He prefers basketball, however.

"That's my favorite," Everett said. "I've been playing since I was 3 or 4. I've always played against guys who are at least two years older than me. That has helped me grow as a player."

Gray is in the opposite situation. A four-year starter for the girls basketball team, the senior guard has done a lot more than her 17.1 points per game average. She has served as a mentor for several of the younger players on a team that won't make the playoffs this season.

"I'm the captain and I have more experience," she said. "When we break up into drills, they're supposed to come to me for questions. If I see some problems, I help them make adjustments.

"I had fun bonding with the younger players and helping them. The majority of them were new and didn't know what to do at first, but they started to learn new things every day."

Gray is from Connecticut and would like to return to the east coast to play college ball. Wherever she lands, she plans to study pre-med in hopes of becoming a pediatrician.

Everett and Gray were presented their certificate and a Target gift card by Larry Nemelka of REMAX/Diamond Realty, sponsor of the Athlete of the Month program.