Former Boston U star Chris Gray has found a new home, and the North Carolina Tar Heels’ offense just got a lot stronger. Gray, whose plans to enter the transfer portal were revealed on May 29, has made the decision to play for Joe Breschi in Chapel Hill, N.C. according to Inside Lacrosse's Ty Xanders.
As soon as his name hit the transfer portal, Gray became the top name of this year’s class of players looking to go elsewhere. He was a two-time First Team All-Patriot League member (both his freshman and sophomore year) and tallied 182 points combined in those seasons alone. According to Inside Lacrosse, the decision was “motivated by his academic ambitions.”
This past season, Gray finished third in Division I with 111 points and 6.53 points per game. He sat first in the nation before the NCAA tournament began — one in which the Terriers did not compete. In total, his 62 assists sat third in Division I.
The season was a successful one for the Terriers, which finished 11-6 overall. However, a core led by Gray and senior James Burr fell to Lehigh in the Patriot League semifinals, short of advancing to an NCAA tournament.
Now, Gray will join a North Carolina team that has missed out on the NCAA tournament in two straight seasons. It’s just three years removed from the national title win over Maryland at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The Tar Heels finished 20th in scoring offense last season, tallying 12.40 goals per game — slightly below Boston U’s total of 12.59 but ahead of fellow ACC foes Duke and Notre Dame. However, North Carolina finished 45th in assists per game, with just 6.20 per game.
North Carolina brings back a good portion of its offense in 2020, including William Perry (32 points), incoming sophomore Nicky Solomon (30 points), Justin Anderson (25 points) and Tanner Cook (22 points). However, leading scorer Timmy Kelly (36 points) and Andy Matthews (32 points) have graduated.