WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State men's basketball moved another step closer to finalizing its 2025-26 roster with the signing of guard Michael Gray Jr.

A transfer from Nicholls State (2023-25) and George Mason (2021-22), Gray Jr. will have one year of eligibility remaining. He did not play basketball during the 2022-23 season.

"I'm happy to announce the signing of Michael as he is an experienced player who has contributed to winning at every step along his journey," said Wichita State head men's basketball coach Paul Mills. "He helped win big games as a member of Nicholls State these past two seasons and also won three state championships in Virginia as a high school player. He comes to Wichita State as a proven shot maker with play making abilities. Michael was one of the most efficient players in the country this past season and the added dimension of physicality he possesses will allow him to contribute quickly in the American."

Gray wrapped up his junior season at Nicholls averaging 11.1 points and 2.7 rebounds on 43/41/82 percent shooting splits. He started 11 games and played in 29 of the team's 33 games. Gray reached double figures in 16 of those 29 games, including five 20-point performances. To open the month of February, he rattled off all five of those 20-point outings over a six-game stretch. The one game he didn't score 20, he finished with 19 points. He scored a career-high 25 points on Feb. 3 vs. Houston Christian on 9-of-14 shooting. A long range threat, Gray was 63-for-154 from three-point range (40.9 percent), including 16 games with multiple made three-pointers. Ten of those 16 games featured four or more made triples. He earned Southland Conference Player of the Week honors on Dec. 2. Gray saw all his numbers increase from 2023-24 where he averaged 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds on 38.7 percent shooting. His outside shooting made the biggest leap from his sophomore to junior season. As a sophomore at Nicholls he converted on just 29.8 percent of his three-point attempts, but saw that percentage jump to nearly 41 percent as a junior.

Gray starred at Blue Ridge School under head coach Cade Lemcke, where he led the Barons to three VISAA state titles. In 2020, Gray earned VISAA and Central Virginia Player of the Year accolades after averaging 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest. In the 2020 state championship win over Norfolk Collegiate, he led Blue Ridge with 20 points in the victory.

He is the son of Mike Gray Sr. and Trina Gray, and has one sibling, Toloria.