RayJ Dennis Bio
Raymond “RayJ” Patterson Dennis, born on March 30, 2001, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on a two-way contract with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League. A point guard listed at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 180 lb (82 kg), Dennis played college basketball for the Boise State Broncos, the Toledo Rockets, and the Baylor Bears before beginning his professional career in 2024.
Known for his playmaking and scoring ability, Dennis earned the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year award in 2023 and was selected to the NBA G League All-Rookie Team in 2025. After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, he has navigated multiple two-way contracts across the league while continuing to develop his game at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Raymond “RayJ” Patterson Dennis was born on March 30, 2001, in Plainfield, Illinois, United States. He grew up in the Plainfield area and attended Heritage Grove Middle School and Murphy Jr. High before beginning his high school career. His upbringing in the Chicago suburbs gave him early exposure to competitive basketball and helped shape his development as a young point guard.
Dennis attended Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, Illinois, for two seasons before transferring to Oswego East High School in Oswego, Illinois. As a junior at Oswego East, he averaged 17.2 points and 4.9 assists per game, demonstrating the playmaking vision that would later define his college and professional career. During his senior season, he elevated his production to 23.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game, attracting attention from college recruiters across the country.
Coming out of high school, Dennis was a highly recruited prospect who ultimately committed to Boise State, choosing the Broncos over 26 Division I scholarship offers. His combination of scoring, passing, and defensive instincts made him one of the more sought-after guards in his recruiting class.
Path to Basketball
Dennis began his college career at Boise State, where he played for the Broncos from 2019 to 2021. As a freshman, he averaged 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college level. In his sophomore season, he made a clear leap, posting 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and a team-best 2.9 assists per game, establishing himself as one of the Broncos’ primary ball-handlers.
Following his sophomore campaign, Dennis opted to transfer to the University of Toledo, joining the Toledo Rockets for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons. As a junior, he averaged 12.7 points, 4.0 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game, showcasing his versatility as a combo guard. On March 3, 2023, he scored a career-high 32 points to go with seven assists in an 87–81 win over Ball State, a performance that announced his arrival as one of the top guards in the Mid-American Conference.
RayJ Dennis Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
During his time at Boise State, Dennis served as a developing point guard who showed steady improvement from his freshman to sophomore seasons. His growth in assists and scoring efficiency gave the Broncos a reliable backcourt presence and helped him earn the attention of higher-level programs.
At Toledo, his game reached a new level, particularly during his senior year when he averaged 19.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. He led the Rockets to a 27–8 record and the MAC regular-season championship, earning MAC Player of the Year and First-team All-MAC honors for his dominant play.
Baylor Breakthrough (2023–2024)
After his standout senior season at Toledo, Dennis transferred to Baylor University, choosing the Bears over offers from Illinois, Michigan, and Utah. Joining the Big 12 Conference program for the 2023–24 season, he was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and earned Second-team All-Big 12 honors, validating his decision to test himself against top-tier competition.
His ability to score and distribute at a high level translated quickly to the Bears’ system, and he finished the year as one of the most productive newcomers in the conference. Following the season, Dennis declared for the 2024 NBA draft.
NBA and G League Era (2024–Present)
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Dennis joined the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2024 NBA Summer League and signed with the team on September 6, 2024. He was waived on October 9, briefly signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards on October 19, and was waived two days later. On October 28, he joined the San Diego Clippers of the NBA G League, where he played through the early part of the 2024–25 season.
On January 3, 2025, Dennis signed a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers, making 11 appearances during the 2024–25 NBA season and averaging 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He returned to the Pacers for the 2025–26 NBA season, appearing in 13 games and posting averages of 4.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, before being waived on November 30, 2025.
On December 5, 2025, Dennis signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, though his time with the team was brief, as he was waived on December 29. Two days later, on December 31, 2025, he signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks, where he continues to compete while also suiting up for the College Park Skyhawks in the G League.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dennis is a pass-first point guard who combines scoring touch with strong court vision and steady on-ball defense. His ability to play both on and off the ball has allowed him to fit into a variety of offensive systems, while his experience across multiple college programs and NBA organizations has helped him develop poise and adaptability at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
On January 16, 2026, while playing for the College Park Skyhawks, Dennis recorded 46 points and 15 assists in a 140–155 loss to the Delaware Blue Coats, one of the most prolific individual performances of his professional career. He was also named to the All-NBA G League Third Team in 2026 and the NBA G League All-Rookie Team in 2025.
RayJ Dennis Career Wins
Throughout his college and professional career, RayJ Dennis has accumulated individual awards and team accomplishments across multiple levels of basketball. His most notable achievements include the MAC Player of the Year award in 2023 and his selection to the NBA G League All-Rookie Team in 2025.
Baylor Bears Highlights
During his lone season at Baylor, Dennis earned Second-team All-Big 12 honors and a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team, marking him as one of the top newcomers in a competitive conference. His performance helped the Bears navigate a demanding Big 12 schedule.
RayJ Dennis Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Raymond “RayJ” Patterson Dennis’s family background is limited. He grew up in the Plainfield, Illinois area and attended local schools before launching his basketball career.
Personal Life
Details about Dennis’s personal life, including marital status, are not widely documented in public sources. He has primarily kept his focus on his basketball career, moving between college programs and NBA organizations since 2019.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a period of significant transition for RayJ Dennis as he navigated multiple NBA organizations while continuing to develop in the G League. He opened the year with the San Diego Clippers before signing a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers in early January, where he split time between the Pacers’ NBA roster and the G League affiliate.
Dennis returned to Indiana for the start of the 2025–26 NBA season, appearing in 13 games and improving his per-game production to 4.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Following his release from the Pacers in late November, he briefly rejoined the Los Angeles Clippers in December before signing with the Atlanta Hawks at year’s end.
Looking ahead, Dennis is positioned to compete for minutes with the Atlanta Hawks while continuing to develop his game with the College Park Skyhawks. His selection to the All-NBA G League Third Team in 2026 underscores his growing reputation as a productive professional guard, and his ability to adapt to multiple systems suggests a promising outlook as he works toward a more permanent NBA role.
