Ray McCallum gave his father a birthday gift that both will never forget.
Playing for his father, Ray McCallum Sr., the head basketball coach at the University of Detroit Mercy, McCallum helped the Titans win the Horizon League tournament championship March 6, 2012, earning a berth in the NCAA tournament. It was his father’s 51st birthday.
“That was my present to him — to get him to the NCAA tournament,” said McCallum, a point guard for the Sacramento Kings, who was drafted in the second round in 2013 and 36th overall.
As a junior in 2013, McCallum led the Titans to the National Invitation Tournament after being named Horizon League Player of the Year and topping the league in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game.
Throughout his life, his parents provided guidance on and off the court.
“At a young age my family always had me in church. Being in church on Sunday is something that is always good to do. I am a big believer. I give all the credit to my family. I grew up with a great family,” said McCallum, 23. “My parents always tell me to do the right thing and good things will happen to you and give your praise to the Lord and let Him know how thankful you are for everything.”
NBA season
“To get the opportunity to wake up every day is a blessing, but obviously to be in the NBA is a dream come true.”
Considered a “true” point guard, McCallum gets other players involved by being aggressive on both ends of the court.
Averaging 6.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, McCallum wants to be a “true floor leader.”
Sacramento guard Ben McLemore said McCallum brings a lot of energy and support.
“He helps with the team in different ways, communicating, moving the ball, hitting guys in good positions. His drive is just tremendous. He is one of my best friends on the team.
“Playing for his dad gave him good understanding on how to learn the game more and help others be on the same page as him.”
To play for his father, who scored 2,109 career points at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and was Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 1983, was the main reason McCallum passed on offers from basketball powerhouses Florida, Oklahoma, Arizona and UCLA.
McCallum was highly recruited after leading Detroit Country Day School to the 2010 state championship, was a McDonald’s High School All-American and finished third in Michigan’s Mr. Basketball voting.
All-Horizon League team
He was the first freshman in Detroit history to make the All-Horizon League team and led the team in scoring (13.5 points), assists (4.9) and total steals (54). CollegeInsider.com named him a freshman All-American.
As a sophomore McCallum was first team all-conference after averaging 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He was first team all conference as a junior also. He averaged 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
During the NBA’s Summer League in 2014 the Kings won the championship and McCallum was the most valuable player of the championship game.
At every level McCallum has stayed true to himself.
“You continue to be the person you are and continue to do the things that got you to this level,” he said, claiming Philippians 4:13 as his favorite verse.
He stays spiritually sharp through prayer and said the Lord is his “role model.”
“Just being a good person, always trying to do the right thing and trying to have a high character and carry myself the right way all the time” are his personal goals, McCallum said.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Nick Calathes has attended pre-game chapel services with McCallum. “Obviously he is a good kid. It is good to see.”
Calathes called it great to see other Christians in the league.
For McCallum “every day is truly a blessing to be doing what I am doing. I am very thankful for everything that He has allowed me to do,” he said. “I’ve had a great life. Everything in life is something special for me. I know that none of that would be possible if it wasn’t for Him.”
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