Trey Murphy III keeping name in NBA Draft

Posted on Monday, Jun. 21, 2021, 11:15 pm

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Trey Murphy III. Photo courtesy Atlantic Coast Conference.

Virginia fans were hoping that Trey Murphy would change his mind about turning pro, but the Durham, N.C., native ended the suspense on Monday when he said he’s keeping his name in the 2021 NBA Draft.

In an interview with Jonathan Givony of ESPN, Murphy said he has hired an agent and will forgo his remaining college eligibility.

Not long after the news broke, Murphy’s mother, Albeda, tweeted about a picture of her son in a Virginia uniform: “This picture makes me want to cry. Thank you for supporting Trey and welcoming us to the UVA family this past year.”

Murphy, who transferred from Rice to UVa last summer, played only one year for the Cavaliers and became one of Virginia’s top players in a matter of months, particularly with his 3-point shot. At 6-foot-9, he was a tough matchup for opposing guards.

Now, he’s headed to the NBA, and projected by some as a first-round draft pick.

“I loved my time at UVA and everyone there, but it’s time for me to move on,” Murphy told Givony. “I feel like I am ready to take on this challenge.

“I wanted to show that I am fully committed to this opportunity, and how serious I am about this process. I’ve been looking forward to it my entire life. I’ve never been more ready to embark on this journey. I feel ready and confident.”

He was a  lethal wing shooter in his only year at a Power 5 school, and rated by Synergy Sports Technology as the most efficient half-court scorer in the country, making 50 percent of his open standstill 3-pointers. Murphy told JerryRatcliffe.com a year ago that he planned on redshirting at Virginia in order to build strength through its conditioning program under Mike Curtis, and to develop his game.

However, those plans shifted quickly when Tony Bennett realized that Murphy could make an immediate impact. Murphy noticed it, too.

“I saw I was one of the best players on the floor,” he told ESPN. “Maybe I don’t need to redshirt and instead I can help this team win games. I talked with my family and the coaching staff, and they were all excited about it.”

Murphy reported that a lot of NBA teams were intrigued with him, likely because of his length and agility, in addition to his shooting ability, he could play any of three positions. Some teams like him as a first-rounder.

“The goal isn’t just to get drafted at a certain number (he is rated as ESPN 100’s as the No. 30 prospect), but to play 15 years in the NBA I want to make sure I set the foundation right and go to a team that can help me reach my full potential.”