MEET JOEY GRAY

PROFESSIONAL BILLIARDS PLAYER

“I started playing pool when I was 10 years old. The first day I saw a table I fell in love and met Eric Nordstrom and Casey Frazier. From there, I went home cleared the kitchen table and used any balls I could find and used a fishing pole as a pool cue.

I was fortunate to learn from some great players early on including James Walden, Gabe Owen, Danny Harriman, Dave Matlock, Shane Mcminn, and Bryan Jones, just to name a few. My family wasn’t very involved in playing pool themselves, but have always supported me in everything that I’ve done.

I am proud to have developed some close friends early in the pool scene. Tyler Strawn was my best friend and training partner at 12 and we improved together tremendously playing at a pro level very early. Then getting 1st and 2nd in the junior nationals 2 years in a row. After that experience, it really sparked a fire in me to be the best in the world. I played as much pool as possible for years until I eventually got my dream to compete in the world Juniors taking 5th place in Germany.

My friend Chip and I began playing together and hanging out all the time. We actually hitched a ride with a pool player from NC all the way out there and stayed on the road playing pool for months at 16/15. Chip improved dramatically and we both competed professionally playing out of Chester’s where I truly grew my abilities. I traveled the road as a pool player for a few years before my 20s traveling with the likes of Chewtobacca, James Walden, Justin whitehead, and even got involved with some bad characters. The road was tough but taught me a lot. Chad Glasgow was the bartender at Chester’s and soon to be part owner at the time and we developed a close friendship. Even traveled to some tournaments together. Our bond was great. Now my Brother in law and my best friend/brother I give credit to a lot of my successes from his guidance with work ethic, business decisions, and our long talks and deliberations. Chip and I were road partners for about 20 years. Losing our close Friend Tyler Strawn in 2007. Terrible loss for us but made us get closer. Still brothers now.

I decided to step away from the competition side to search out something different at age 27. Loving fitness and helping others, I found a passion for teaching and training players in the gym and on the table. Working whatever jobs I could to earn a living trying to find a career in a different path before my teaching took off I met Pacer Ames doing granite who inspired and motivated me to become a better teacher and take it on full-time.

Thanks to so many people it’s been a success. So many other people to acknowledge for my growth and had faith in me like Steve Trent, Tyler Doolittle, Justin Nichols, Nayla Hoak, Bobby and Tina Powell, Ice and Steph, Kim Reinor, and many more. Getting picked by my now close friend Jeremy Jones for Co captain for team USA in 2020 working with the best of the best was such a great experience especially working with a great mind like JJs and training players all over the United States.

Picking up a sponsorship from Cuetec was a game changer for me. Brett Garson and Kyle Nolan have been there for me in more ways than a sponsor generally is, and the Cuetec crew have become my close friends, more like family. Rachel Peterson becoming a good friend helping me start JGTRAINING LLC, and my own nonprofit called Kids ABT-JG FOUNDATION.

I’m so excited to open this concept with my friend Shyon to help grow the game all over the country teaching and doing my part to build the future of Oklahoma City pool by spreading my passion in the city I was born and the city I love.”