Ernie Bray attended Porterville High School from 1985 to 1989, where he played varsity basketball under his father, Head Coach Ernie Bray Sr. During his high school career, he became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,275 points in 67 games. Bray scored over 40 points in a game three times.
In 1989, he was named East Yosemite League (EYL) Most Valuable Player and Visalia Times-Delta Player of the Year. That same season, Porterville High won the EYL Championship under Coach Bray Sr.
Coach Ernie Bray Sr, simply known as “Coach Bray” was known for emphasizing hard work, discipline, and integrity. His coaching philosophy focused on fast-break offense, pressure defense, and incorporating the three-point shot as soon as it was introduced at the high school level. Coach Bray was always known as a coach who cared about and inspired his players.
Basketball involvement extended throughout the Bray family. Coach Bray’s wife managed team statistics, and their younger son, Brian Bray, was actively involved with the program. As a sixth grader, Brian participated in the varsity summer league and scored his first points on a three-pointer.
After graduating from Porterville High School, Ernie Bray continued his basketball career at the University of California, Santa Cruz where he played from 1992-1994. During his senior year, he ranked fifth nationally in three-pointers made at the NCAA Division III level.
Ernie Bray 42 point game for Porterville High School
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ofG2r6AnAU
Ernie Bray 41 Point game for Porterville High School
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TfI_XdWqzk
Ernie Bray basketball player Porterville High School 37 points against Hanford
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HS19881210.1.10
Ernie Bray basketball
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HS19881210.1.10
Ernie Bray 105 3 pointers in one season. UC Santa Cruz record.
https://goslugs.com/sports/2021/7/2/single-season-leaders.aspx?id=368
Ernie Bray UC Santa Cruz 5 three pointers
https://goslugs.com/news/2021/1/18/1_18_2021_25.aspx
Ernie Bray UC Santa Cruz basketball
https://goslugs.com/news/2021/1/18/1_18_2021_24.aspx
Ernie Bray UC Santa Cruz basketball player
https://goslugs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/ernie-bray/121
Ernie Bray UC Santa Cruz all time basketball player roster
https://goslugs.com/sports/2021/7/2/all-time-ucsc-mens-basketball-roster.aspx?id=366
Ernie Bray Los Angeles Times mention
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-21-sp-165-story.html
Ernie Bray NCAA 2003 Division III Basketball record book. Three pointers made per game.
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2003/Div3.pdf
Ernie Bray life lessons from basketball
https://www.erniebray.com/blog/basketball-life-lessons
Ernie Bray UC Santa Cruz Records
https://www.scribd.com/document/407105375/mediaguidebkb
Ernie Bray UC Santa Cruz all time three point shooters
https://thecannonnetwork.com/uc-santa-cruz-banana-slugs-all-time-made-threes-leaders/
Ernie Bray UC Santa Cruz basketball
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/66314415/
———————————————————————————————————————-
Coach Bray was a standout athlete at Redwood High School in the 1960s, excelling in both baseball and basketball. He earned a basketball scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he played from 1963 to 1965. After college, he became a teacher and coach, known for his enthusiastic and creative coaching style, Coach Bray focused on hard work, discipline, and fundamentals.
Ernie Bray Sr, ( Coach Bray ). Cal Poly Basketball Letter winner
Ernie Bray Sr, ( Coach Bray ). Cal poly basketball
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2152&context=studentnewspaper