JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A key player of Jacksonville University basketball's heyday died this week. James Ray was 66.
Ray was the fifth overall selection in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, the highest Dolphin ever drafted. He played three seasons with the Nuggets from 1980-83, tallying 334 points and 228 rebounds in 103 games.
As a senior at JU in 1980, Ray was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and led the team to the NIT. He played in the ninth-seeded Dolphins' NCAA tournament appearance in 1979.
Ray was inducted into the JU Hall of Fame in 1993.
According to the Florida Times-Union, Ray had experienced health troubles the past few years.
"We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Jacksonville men’s basketball legend, James Ray: All-American, Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, JU Hall-of-Famer, No. 5 overall draft pick and Dolphin forever," a post from the university said.
