Season’s Over, But GTCC Basketball Players Still Collecting Honors

Left to Right: Raequane Key and Drew Smith were recently named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10 honorable mention team.

Two members of the Guilford Technical Community College men’s basketball team continue to draw attention for their solid play well after the final buzzer sounded on the 2021 season.

Raequane Key and Drew Smith were recently named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10 honorable mention team in a vote of the region’s coaches.

The pair of freshmen were one-two in scoring for GTCC, helping the Titans post a 7-14 season.

“Ray and Drew both had really good seasons for us,” said GTCC basketball coach Kirk Chandler. “The statistical numbers that they each put up were impressive, and they matched that with their day-to-day effort. The competition level in Region 10 is as good as any region nationwide. To be recognized as one of the best in this region is quite an honor.” 

Key, out of Parkland High School in Winston-Salem, was second in the league in scoring and rebounding. He averaged 20.4 points and eight rebounds a game. Smith, who played at Warren County High School in Warrenton, was fifth in the league in scoring with a 14.8 points per game average and was 10^th in free throw percentage, hitting 83.9 percent of his shots from the foul line.

Key, who didn’t play basketball during his senior year of high school, proved he hadn’t lost his touch with a stellar year, but thought he and the team both have room for improvement.

“I rate this season as good for the team, yet I feel we all could’ve gotten more done,” said Key. “Our team was small, but we never backed down and that speaks for itself. There is a lot I need to improve on. Honestly, I feel like I’m a 25 -point, 10-rebound guy at this level, so there is definitely room for improvement.”

Smith agreed with Key’s assessment on room for improvement, but believes the Titans are close to breaking through to the next level.

“Even though I feel like we could have done better this season, we showed signs of being a really good team putting up big numbers and shooting the ball very well,” said Smith, adding hard work was a big key to his success. “I see a large room for improvement. I’m planning on putting in a lot of work this off-season, working on pretty much everything, explosiveness, consistency of shot, tighter handling just to name a few.”