UVA makes final 3 cut for New Zealand guard Murray; Warley to FSU

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia basketball lost out on one star prospect on Sunday, but made the final-three cut for another prospect in New Zealand shooting guard Taine Murray.

Murray, who is 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, hails from Auckland, hometown of former Wahoo center Jack Salt. On Sunday, Murray trimmed his potential college choices to Virginia, Maryland and Stanford.

Projected as a Top-100 prospect, Murray has been highly recruited by schools all over the U.S., including from the Pac-12, Big Ten, Big East and the ACC. 

He is scheduled to graduate from high school in December and could enroll early in college. Academics will be a key factor in his decision.

Described as a player who can fit at multiple positions, he has good size and length. His versatility is something that attracted Virginia to the New Zealander.

Grateful for the opportunity to play for the @auckland_huskies in the 2020 @nznbl

🎥 – @_eatthatdonut
🎵 – @swidtmusic pic.twitter.com/SpvPzvEQPM

— Taine Murray (@MurrayTaine) August 6, 2020

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers lost out on 5-star guard Jalen Warley on Sunday. Warley, ranked No. 23 in the 2021 class, committed to Florida State over the Wahoos, Michigan, Oregon, Maryland, Miami and Memphis, among others.