Whiz Kid: A Young Athlete

Mount Vernon Patch’s Whiz Kid of the Week: Chania Ray

Chania, who has always called Mount Vernon her home, lives in the community with her three siblings. She is a sophomore at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., where she was recruited to play basketball. She also is a member of the local Cardinal AAU Girls Basketball Team. She plays point guard and shooting guard.

In her household, basketball has always been a “family affair.” She recalls her earlier years: “My mom was always at the gym coaching, or running a tournament in the Mount Vernon area.”

Chania’s 13-year-old sister, Chanise, plays basketball, too, and will attend l next year. “She is very effective on the court,” Chania said. Her younger brother, age 9, also plays basketball as part of a county league.

Chania began playing basketball when she was just seven years old. “At about 10 years old, I decided that basketball was my passion, and I made it my one true sport,” she said. “Once I discovered I was good at it, and could be really great, basketball became my life,” she says. “I enjoy the art of new moves, new ways to play and most of all, winning.”

With a rigorous year-round practice schedule, Chania often works twice a day to polish her skills, going back and forth between her high school team in Washington, DC and her Northern Virginia club team. She has competed in tournaments both locally and on a national level, traveling all over the country, including trips to Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. This year, she plans to compete in a tournament in Phoenix and one in Hawaii, both special trips she is truly looking forward to in the months to come.

When she is not playing basketball (which is rare these days, she notes), Chania enjoys hanging out with her friends at the movies or the mall.

Chania will graduate in 2014, and plans to continue playing basketball at the college level. She would like to pursue a degree in criminal justice. “After college, I plan to either go ‘pro,’ or play basketball overseas … I don’t see an end to my basketball life anytime soon.”

Her advice to younger children who might be interested in following in her footsteps: “Keep working hard. Dedication really will take you places both off and on the court,” she says. “Make sure you keep on top of your grades. As long as you work hard and stay focused, you will be successful.”