Jamal Murray Leads Team World Past Team USA at Nike Hoop Summit
Jamal Murray Leads Team World Past Team USA at Nike Hoop Summit
Despite playing with what he called a tight left thigh, Orangeville Prep guard Jamal Murray led the World Team to a 103-101 victory at the Nike Hoop Summit on Saturday in Portland, Ore.
Playing with a very talented roster, the 6-foot-5 guard flourished, scoring 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting, en route to being named the game’s MVP. The CIA Bounce AAU standout also dished out five assists and played a game-high 31 minutes. The extra burn was well deserved, though, as Murray was clearly the best player on the court.
Many basketball analysts praised Murray’s excellent performance on Twitter.
If I am Coach K & Tyus Jones is leaving, I am on phone right now to get Jamal Murray to reclassify right now. Wasting time in prep school.
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 11, 2015
Jamal Murray - Indiana among his offers - scores game-high 30 as World d. USA at Hoop Summit. https://t.co/fK4xPQpquj pic.twitter.com/2FRebVX84b
— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) April 11, 2015
Canadian PG Jamal Murray, who's been good in practices, was the star of the first half. Can reclassify and attend college next year.
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) April 11, 2015
Murray, the only player who played in the Nike Hoop Summit last year, fell just four points shy of tying Enes Kanter’s 34 point Team World scoring record, which was set back in 2010.
Joining Murray at the Nike Hoop Summit was Orangeville Prep teammate Thon Maker. Although Maker pulled in 10 rebounds, he struggled to generate any offence on Saturday, only scoring two points on 0-for-5 shooting.
Entering the game with tons of hype, Maker’s performance will be labeled as a “letdown”, or “disappointment”. However, it is important to remember that Maker has only been playing basketball for 5 years and he still has much to develop. While that’s not an excuse for him, it is something to keep in mind when evaluating him as a player.
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On a side note, Maker only played 13 minutes on Saturday, which probably means he will see plenty of burn at the BioSteel All-Canadian All Star game in Toronto on Tuesday night.
While events like the Nike Hoop Summit are a great experience for both Murray and Maker, all eyes are still focused on what the dynamic Orangeville Prep duo will decide to do next season. Will they reclassify and go to college next year? Or will they return to Orangeville Prep for another season?
“Reclassifying is still an option,” Murray told Jim Halley of USA Today. “I haven’t put a lot of thought into it. I’ve been very busy. I’m just trying to find a time to sit down with my Dad and my coaches and really discuss it.”
In an interview with Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, Roger Murray — Jamal’s Dad — was reticent about his son’s future.
“As for now he’s 2016,” Roger Murray said. “If everything lines up for 2015, so it be.”
In terms of what schools are recruiting Murray, Roger went on to say that “10-15 schools” are interested in the Kitchener native, including Michigan, Michigan State, Syracuse, Oregon, Illinois, Indiana, Wake Forest, Duke and Kentucky.
But after his performance at the Nike Hoop Summit, I’m sure Murray will have the power to choose any school he likes, much like Maker does.
Next: BioSteel All-Canadian All Star Game Announces Future Roster