When it comes to high school basketball, few names shine as brightly as senior forward Nataliyah Gray. The Alief Taylor star has made waves across the basketball community, not only for her staggering statistics but for her relentless work ethic, versatility and basketball IQ.
“Nataliyah’s versatility causes problems for all opponents,” said Alief Taylor’s head girls’ basketball coach Brandy Jones. “She can score in the post, midrange and from the 3-point line. Coaches game plan to try to stop her but she still puts up big numbers.”
Gray’s on-court dominance is unmatched. This season, she has recorded a double-double in 30 of her 31 games, showcasing her ability to excel on both ends of the floor. Averaging 26.8 points and 13.7 rebounds per game, Gray has amassed 778 points and 396 rebounds, leading her team in nearly every statistical category, including blocks (98), free-throw percentage (76%) and field goal percentage (47%).
Gray’s success is deeply rooted in the guidance of her mother, Chontel Gray. A former basketball star who played at the AAU, collegiate, international and ABL levels, Chontel instilled in Gray the values of hard work, basketball education and versatility from a young age.
We do a lot of basketball education. She sees so many defensive variations. When they throw her a challenge, we go into film, I educate and she fixes it.
Chontel Gray. Mother of nataliyah & A former basketball star
“We do a lot of basketball education,” said Chontel. “She sees so many defensive variations. When they throw her a challenge, we go into film, I educate and she fixes it.”
This approach has shaped Gray into a player who can adapt to any challenge. With her 6-foot-3 frame, solid ball handling, and deep offensive repertoire, she’s become a nightmare for defenders.
“Nataliyah poses a huge challenge for defenders because she has an arsenal of moves and a knack for scoring the basketball,” said Jones. “When you take away one move, she has a counter move.”
Gray’s basketball journey began in the third grade and she faced initial challenges due to her limited knowledge of the sport. To enhance her athleticism, her mother, Chontel, introduced her to soccer and tennis, aiming to improve her hand-eye coordination and agility. As Gray’s abilities grew, Chontel strategically placed her in demanding settings, such as on boys’ teams and on outdoor courts, to foster mental resilience and self-assurance.
“Playing against boys built my toughness and brought out the relentless will to rebound that I have,” said Gray. “Playing against boys that were more athletic and taller made boxing out a habit and that built my skill of utilizing pump fakes. It also taught me to play smarter because of my disadvantage physically, which further sharpened my mental game.”
“Despite the physical and emotional challenges, she never quit, she was fearless and never gave up,” said Chontel.
By ninth grade, Gray was dominating 17U summer leagues, quickly catching the eye of college scouts, including Mississippi State’s coaching staff. The summer leading into her senior year, Mississippi State head coach Sam Purcell offered her a spot.
And she accepted.
“I knew Mississippi State was home when I went on my official visit,” said Gray. “The environment and energy were different. The amount of support the Mississippi State women’s basketball team has is impactful. The amount of experience the coaching staff has is remarkable and the passion Coach Purcell has for women’s basketball is on a whole different level. I knew he was a coach I would want to play for and grow under.”
Throughout her remarkable high school career, Gray has accounted for over 3,000 points, 1,500+ rebounds, 94 double-doubles and 350 blocks. Her outstanding performance earned her numerous honors, including Newcomer of the Year, two-time Offensive MVP, and repeated All-District and All-Region selections.
“It feels amazing to surpass 3,000 points while also having over 1,500 rebounds. The results speak to the hard work I put into my game,” said Gray.
For Gray and her mother, the journey is about more than accolades. It’s about preparation, growth and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
“Our motto is getting college ready,” Chontel emphasized. “You’re not going to get college-ready by just watching games; you have to play, make mistakes, grow and develop.”
About Nataliyah Gray:
Class: 2025
IG: @D1._tally2
Twitter: @ChontelReynolds
Position: Forward
Height & weight: 6-feet-3, 160 pounds
Favorite artist: Partynextdoor
Status: Committed to Mississippi State
Favorite subject: English
Shout-outs: Mom
