By Kalle Oakes,Staff Writer
Despite being one of his team’s top players, Zak Ray brings a refreshing approach to his game at Bates.

LEWISTON – Zak Ray is Bates College’s best all-around basketball player. In a perfect world where none of us went nutty over individual statistics, he’d probably be a stone-cold lock for New England Small College Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Just don’t expect to hear about it from him.

No, in a sporting universe where a player known only by his initials can dominate the headlines for weeks on end without ever playing a game, Ray’s attitude is refreshing. If you’re a cynic, you might even say it’s too good to be true.

Ray might look you squarely in the eye (another of his refreshing habits) and insist that he wouldn’t care if he scores another point this winter, as long as Bates wins its conference crown and advances to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 1961.

“Zak is the best point guard in NESCAC, and he still works harder than anyone else,” said Bates coach Joe Reilly, well on the way to his sixth consecutive winning season with the Bobcats. “Here’s a guy who was already a very good player, and every morning all summer long he was in the gym at 7 a.m., working out with a professor.”

Ray could light it up from 3-point land or carve up a zone defense to the tune of 20-plus points per night. With junior classmate Rob Stockwell leading a balanced starting five and Reilly getting mighty contributions three and four seats down the bench, the 5-foot-11 former Maine Mr. Basketball from Bangor doesn’t have to let it fly.

But when conditions dictate, such as Sunday’s second-half rally from a double-digit deficit to trim Trinity of Texas in the opening round of the Naismith Classic in Springfield, Mass., there’s no mistaking who captains the ship.

“If a game is on the line,” said Reilly, “we want the ball going through Zak’s hands.”

Bates also beat Springfield in the Naismith final. After that victory, Ray is among the team leaders in scoring (13 points per game) and rebounding (4.9). His average of 5.4 assists per contest and totals of 18 3-pointers and 27 steals also lead Bates.

The offensive numbers represent a slight jump from Ray’s freshman and sophomore seasons, when he was a starter, but had the luxury of dishing the ball to a supporting cast that included Maranacook product Brian Gerrity.

“We had a lot of juniors and seniors who were proven scorers,” Ray said. “I was supposed to get them the ball and make sure they got open looks (at the basket). My role this year maybe has changed a little bit.”

He remains the consummate team player, though. And if you’re unfamiliar with the program’s gradual rise to prominence under Reilly, Ray would seem to be a steal for Bates.

Actually, he’s additional evidence of a favorable trend that’s been in place for several seasons. Bates is becoming one of the choice schools for in-state Division III prospects.

Ray is the second Mr. Basketball to suit up under Reilly’s watch. Angelo Salvaggio of Cheverus transferred to Bates and concluded his career with the Bobcats.

Gerrity scored nearly 2,000 high school points. Current assistant coach Jon Furbush was a four-year varsity contributor from South Portland, while injured Eric Shone of Portland and promising freshman Ben Thayer give this year’s roster a homegrown flavor.

“When the best players in the state want to play Division III basketball and get a great education,” said Reilly, “we want them to think of Bates.”

A pair of Division III schools courted Ray. Of the two, Franklin Pierce of Rindge, N.H., was closer to home.

When Ray visited cozy Alumni Gymnasium, the idea of his family being able to watch more than half his games helped seal the deal. And Ray recognized that Reilly shared a similar philosophy and commitment to winning with his previous coach, legendary Bangor High School head man Roger Reed.

“I felt a greater sense of community here than I did anywhere else,” Ray said.

It didn’t hurt that the Bates program was on its greatest up-tick in recent memory.

The Bobcats (8-2) have a shot at their first 20-win season. Saturday’s home game against Colby could set the tone for a triumphant conference campaign.

NESCAC’s postseason tournament champion receives an automatic NCAA bid.

“Our goals really haven’t changed,” said Ray. “At the beginning of every season, we set out to win the NESCAC championship. And we feel that since our conference is as good as any in the country, we should be able to go on and be successful in the NCAAs.”

No matter how Ray’s line in the box score may read.