No major offers, no problems: Murr ready to follow the footsteps of Curry, Lillard
ATHENS, Ala. (BVM) — Everyone knows the name Tommy Murr when it comes to high school basketball in Alabama.
Attending Lindsay Lane Christian Academy, Murr concluded his prep career with 5,716 points – fifth all-time in US high school history. A slithery point guard with an innate finishing ability and silky-smooth jump shot, Murr is committed to Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. to continue his playing career.
Outside of his home state though, his story isn鈥檛 as well known. To many who have seen him play, this probably comes off as a surprise. Murr has been vastly under-recruited when you look at the numbers. As a senior, Murr averaged 44.3 points per game, complemented by 3.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 steals.
However, this only earned him the label of a 鈥渢hree-star recruit鈥� and offers from mid-to-low major universities like Samford, Tennessee Tech and Troy. Maybe it鈥檚 his size that throws off recruiters; Murr stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 165 pounds. It could also be because he鈥檚 from little-known Athens, with a population of 25,000 people.
Whatever the reason for his under-recruitment may be, it seems like Lipscomb will be getting a high-level Division I talent. Overtime Basketball, a sports network focused on posting highlight videos of incredible players, has their archives stuffed with Tommy Murr highlights. A couple titles of these videos include 鈥淭ommy Murr drops 60 while being triple teamed鈥� and 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the best shooter I鈥檝e ever seen, Murr scores 55鈥�.
Although Murr might not have received the attention a player of his skillset deserves, he is excited and fortunate for the opportunity that lays ahead. Rather than focusing on team鈥檚 that overlooked him or reached out too late, Murr is channeling his energy on Lipscomb and their willingness to welcome him aboard.
鈥淥n my official visit, the way the guys treated me, it felt like we were friends my whole life,鈥� Murr said. 鈥淭hey cared about me beyond what I can do for them with a basketball. Guys were truly invested in me and the man they wanted me to become.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 until his senior year that high-level SEC coaches were ready to take a leap of faith and offer Murr a scholarship, but with each one that came around, the Lindsay Lane star turned them down. He is fully ready to fulfill his potential at a mid-major school, much like current stars around the NBA once did.
鈥淪teph Curry was a three-star prospect, Russell Westbrook was a two-star prospect, CJ McCollum went to Lehigh, Damian Lillard went to Weber State,鈥� Murr said. 鈥淚 see the potential in this trend and it鈥檚 very exciting for me, but in every way I feel this is the best fit.鈥�
After talking with Lipscomb head coach Lennie Acuff, Murr says that his role immediately following high school will have to be earned. Lipscomb鈥檚 offense runs through a true point guard, and Acuff says that he sees Murr as their floor general. He didn鈥檛 make any promises though.
鈥淎 lot of schools will tell you that if you come here, you鈥檙e going to be the man. That鈥檚 not how they were though,鈥� Murr said. 鈥淐oach said that making that promise wouldn鈥檛 be fair to the rest of the guys in the locker room. That’s fine with me because I鈥檓 the kind of kid who wants to go in there and earn it.鈥�
Despite all of his early basketball lore, and aspirations to one day play professionally either in the states or overseas, Murr keeps his big picture in mind. Growing up in a household oriented around their faith, Murr understands that basketball is temporary. He admits that the viral internet fame and accolades received are all fun, but eventually those will be things of the past.
鈥淥ne day the ball stops bouncing for everyone,鈥� Murr said. 鈥淭he biggest thing is that we prayed from a young age that God would give me a big stage to profess my faith on and that鈥檚 exactly what he has done.鈥�
Murr comes from a family where playing college basketball is almost an expectation. His dad, grandpa, four uncles and sister all played collegiate basketball. However, the soon-to-be Lindsay Lane graduate has also been able to stay down-to-earth and remain his genuine self. Six years as a varsity athlete, 60 Division I inquiries and becoming an internet sensation didn鈥檛 shake his strong faith.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all been very cool, watching this process, being on the front page of YouTube,鈥� Murr said. 鈥淏ut my identity isn鈥檛 who I am, it’s whose I am. I鈥檓 a son of God. I work hard and if it鈥檚 the Lord鈥檚 will, I believe I have the potential to play professionally … but it鈥檚 not my focus. My focus is getting better each day鈥�
