diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTreeElement.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTreeElement.cpp
index 2c51ff13f1..654d4b4ecc 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityTreeElement.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityTreeElement.cpp
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ EntityItemID EntityTreeElement::findDetailedRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& ori
         if (!success) {
             return;
         }
-        if (!rayHitsSphere(origin, direction, entityBox.calcCenter(), 0.25f * glm::length2(entityBox.getScale()))) {
+        if (!entityBox.rayHitsBoundingSphere(origin, direction)) {
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/AABox.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/AABox.cpp
index cea0a83d52..cbf3c1b785 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/AABox.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/AABox.cpp
@@ -287,6 +287,15 @@ bool AABox::findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direct
     return false;
 }
 
+bool AABox::rayHitsBoundingSphere(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction) const {
+    glm::vec3 localCenter = calcCenter() - origin;
+    float distance = glm::dot(localCenter, direction);
+    const float ONE_OVER_TWO_SQUARED = 0.25f;
+    float radiusSquared = ONE_OVER_TWO_SQUARED * glm::length2(_scale);
+    return (glm::length2(localCenter) < radiusSquared
+            || (glm::abs(distance) > 0.0f && glm::distance2(distance * direction, localCenter) < radiusSquared));
+}
+
 bool AABox::touchesSphere(const glm::vec3& center, float radius) const {
     // Avro's algorithm from this paper: http://www.mrtc.mdh.se/projects/3Dgraphics/paperF.pdf
     glm::vec3 e = glm::max(_corner - center, Vectors::ZERO) + glm::max(center - _corner - _scale, Vectors::ZERO);
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/AABox.h b/libraries/shared/src/AABox.h
index 24485eaad6..2d5ca242d6 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/AABox.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/AABox.h
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ public:
     bool expandedIntersectsSegment(const glm::vec3& start, const glm::vec3& end, float expansion) const;
     bool findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction, float& distance,
                                 BoxFace& face, glm::vec3& surfaceNormal) const;
+	bool rayHitsBoundingSphere(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction) const;
     bool touchesSphere(const glm::vec3& center, float radius) const; // fast but may generate false positives
     bool touchesAAEllipsoid(const glm::vec3& center, const glm::vec3& radials) const;
     bool findSpherePenetration(const glm::vec3& center, float radius, glm::vec3& penetration) const;
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/GeometryUtil.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/GeometryUtil.cpp
index 65adc28e07..0742a5625b 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/GeometryUtil.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/GeometryUtil.cpp
@@ -40,14 +40,6 @@ glm::vec3 computeVectorFromPointToSegment(const glm::vec3& point, const glm::vec
     }
 }
 
-bool rayHitsSphere(const glm::vec3& rayStart, const glm::vec3& rayDirection,
-        const glm::vec3& sphereCenter, float sphereRadiusSquared) {
-    glm::vec3 center = sphereCenter - rayStart;
-    float distance = glm::dot(center, rayDirection);
-    return (glm::length2(center) < sphereRadiusSquared
-            || (glm::abs(distance) > 0.0f && glm::distance2(distance * rayDirection, center) < sphereRadiusSquared));
-}
-
 // Computes the penetration between a point and a sphere (centered at the origin)
 // if point is inside sphere: returns true and stores the result in 'penetration'
 // (the vector that would move the point outside the sphere)
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/GeometryUtil.h b/libraries/shared/src/GeometryUtil.h
index bc09b71fc6..4832616fbd 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/GeometryUtil.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/GeometryUtil.h
@@ -19,9 +19,6 @@ class Plane;
 
 glm::vec3 computeVectorFromPointToSegment(const glm::vec3& point, const glm::vec3& start, const glm::vec3& end);
 
-bool rayHitsSphere(const glm::vec3& rayStart, const glm::vec3& rayDirection,
-        const glm::vec3& sphereCenter, float sphereRadiusSquared);
-
 /// Computes the penetration between a point and a sphere (centered at the origin)
 /// \param point the point location relative to sphere center (origin)
 /// \param defaultDirection the direction of the pentration when the point is near the origin