With 12 college offers, 6-foot-8 Coast athlete isn’t letting injury define senior season
Harrison Central forward Sam Murray came into his senior season hoping to capitalize on the hype his junior year and ensuing summer circuit created.
Murray made it eight games into the new campaign before hurting his right knee against Pascagoula. It would end up a minor injury to his MCL but has plagued the highly sought-after athlete in his final run.
He returned to action a few weeks later only to suffer a setback in the Gulfport Holiday Classic that would keep him out for another month.
Despite the nagging knee and the hefty brace he now sports, Murray has kept his head up and fought through the challenge. His scoring output has taken a hit but he’s confident he will bounce back.
“It’s slowed down my scoring but that’s it,” Murray told the Sun Herald. “I’m going to come back stronger and better. I’m trying to get back to my old self game by game. I’m going to keep doing the same thing I’ve been doing since the start of the year. I just have to get back in my groove.”
On the floor, Murray is averaging about 20 points per contest and cleans up the glass with 9.5 rebounds per game.
While Murray has spent more time on the sideline than he and his coaches would like, he’s used the time to hone in on his leadership abilities.
Red Rebel head coach Boo Hardy said Murray has been the same leader to his team as he always has been throughout the season, adding that Murray grows each year of high school.
“He’s taken the role as definitely being our leader,” Hardy said. “He’s always been that person that’s always motivating his teammates. He wishes that he could be out there but he definitely shows support to his teammates.”
Murray is also still working on improving his game on the floor. At 6-foot-8 and slender, Murray has a raw potential that has college scouts watching closely. He’s continuously filling out his game and has been working on his outside jumper this year.
“My deep ball, I work on it a lot,” Murray said. “I’ve gotten better at it. Since I’ve come back I’ve been a little slow to it but I’m going to get back in my groove.”
The setbacks have done nothing to break Murray’s confidence when it comes to his team. Harrison Central still has one game left in Region 8-6A, arguably the toughest region in the state.
The Red Rebels have a 3-2 region record with a contest still to be played against Gulfport. The best seed Murray’s squad can enter the district tournament with is the No. 2. If you ask Murray, that’s not where Harrison Central will finish when the tournament is said and done.
“We’re going to win it, we’re going to win that,” Murray said. “My team took some bumps and bruises but we’re coming back stronger.”
Murray still has plenty ahead of him as an athlete who has the opportunity to play at the highest level of college basketball. He’s the third-ranked high school basketball player in the state on 247sports.com and the top-ranked player from South Mississippi.
He’s holding onto 12 scholarship offers, including ones from the likes of reigning national champions Baylor, Mississippi State, Texas, Arizona State and others.
He hasn’t narrowed down his list but hopes to make a decision before the April signing period sometime during the month of February.
Until then, Murray is focused on staying healthy and bringing Harrison Central a district title.
