Premier Lacrosse League attackman Chris Gray announced his retirement from professional lacrosse after just three years, ending the playing career of the DI men's lacrosse all-time points leader.
Here is a look back at his college career, including stats, highlights and accolades:
Gray kicked off his illustrious college career at Boston University in 2018, tallying 71 points (31 goals, 40 assists) in his freshman campaign. He was named to the Tewaaraton Watch List and was one of three freshmen named an Inside Lacrosse All-American in 2018 while also setting the Terrier's single-season record for assists and points.
Chris Gray introduced himself to the entire country last night, as he came in at No. 6 on @SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays! pic.twitter.com/gVHpWTGBEf
— BU Men's Lacrosse (@TerrierMLAX) March 21, 2018
He shattered the ceiling of his first season, dropping 111 points in 2019 with Boston to lead all of DI lacrosse. He set the Patriot League record for points in a season while finishing second in the nation in assists (62).
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After establishing himself as one of the biggest offensive threats in the game, the 5-foot-7 attackman took his talents to the five-time national champions, North Carolina, in 2020. The COVID-ridden season was cut short after just seven games for the Tar Heels, but Gray was on track for a monster season, piling up 48 points, averaging almost seven per game.
He picked up right where he left off in Chapel Hill in 2021, recording 91 points in his senior season and breaking the UNC single-season points record set by Bruce Ledwith in 1973 (81). Gray led the Tar Heels to the NCAA tournament semifinals before being knocked out by the eventual national champion Virginia Cavaliers 12-11.
He returned for his final season as a graduate senior in 2022, finishing with 80 points to lead the ACC. The Tar Heels missed the postseason in 2022, but in Gray's final collegiate game against Duke, he tallied six points to edge out Lyle Thompson's DI men's lacrosse career point record. Gray finished with 401 to Thompson's 400, cementing himself as one of the game's greats.
In just two full seasons in Chapel Hill, Gray finished second all time in career points for UNC (219), fourth in goals (124) and fourth in assists (95).
He was drafted second overall to the New York Atlas out of UNC, and he officially retired from lacrosse at the age of 25. There is no definitive reason for his retirement, but Gray will certainly be remembered in the lacrosse community for years to come.
