34 Julius Mays

Julius Mays was born Raymond Julius Mays on September 4, 1989, in Bluffton, Indiana, to Shirley Butler and Raymond Mays. At Marion High School, the 6-foot-2 guard developed into one of Indiana’s leading players, averaging 18.6 points as a senior while shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range. He led Marion to a 24-5 record and the Class 4A state championship game, where he scored 21 points, and completed his career as a first-team all-state selection and three-time Grant County Player of the Year.

Mays began his college career at North Carolina State before transferring to Wright State, where he redshirted one season and then emerged as the Raiders’ leading scorer. He averaged 14.1 points, earned Horizon League Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-conference honors, and scored a career-high 33 points against UIC while setting school and conference records with 19 made free throws. After graduating, he transferred to Kentucky for his final season of eligibility.

Although Kentucky’s 2012-13 season was marked by injuries and inconsistency, Mays supplied maturity, dependable outside shooting and veteran leadership to a young roster. He made a 3-pointer in 20 of his final 21 games and was often entrusted with the ball in important situations. His finest performance came against Missouri, when he played a career-high 44 minutes and led Kentucky with 24 points, making four 3-pointers and eight of nine free throws. He also scored 19 points in an overtime victory at Texas A&M and delivered 15 points on four-of-five 3-point shooting against South Carolina.

Following his Kentucky career, Mays played professionally in Italy with Mobyt Ferrara, wearing the same No. 34 he had worn as a Wildcat. He later returned to Marion, where he continued influencing young athletes as an assistant athletic director and head girls’ basketball coach at his former high school.