Iowa student Keegan Murray will enter the 2022 NBA Draft.
“I am eternally grateful to that coach [Fran] “McAffrey gave me the opportunity to make my dream come true,” Murray told ESPN on Tuesday. “Iowa will always be my home and I will always be grateful to be a part of the Hawkeye Nation.”
Murray, fifth on the ESPN 100, was named the first-ever American first team after averaging 23.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 32 minutes per game. He led Iowa State to the Big Ten Championship and was named MVP after scoring 103 points in four games.
He is currently a finalist for some of college basketball’s most prestigious postseason awards, including the Wooden, Naismith and Lute Olson Awards, presented annually to the best Division I men’s basketball player.
Murray has taken a unique path to emerge as a possible top five in June. He graduated from Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with only one Division I scholarship offered to Western Illinois, which led to him spending a year after graduation at DME Academy in Florida, with his twin brother, Chris.
“I went into my freshman year at Iowa trying to learn,” Keegan Murray said. “I had the best national player on our team in Luca Garza. The veterans are back. My goal was to learn from them and figure out what I could do to get minutes and benefit our team, which meant being a really loud and strong guy on defense. I tried to fulfill this role as much as possible.”
Murray came off the bench as a freshman and averaged 7.2 points in 18 minutes per game. He then exploded to become the best college basketball player in his sophomore year, ranking fourth in the country in scoring and first in player competition rating (PER).
“The biggest focus for me off-season was being a better player physically,” Murray said. “I gained 15 pounds and was able to increase my vertical jump [6-foot-8], 205 pounds in college. I’ve grown to around 6-9, and between 220-225 pounds, which has helped me a lot.”
Murray began the season as a first-round pick, but quickly established himself as one of the best potential NBA players in all of college basketball, as a 6-9 forward with an updated skill set and uncanny versatility at both ends. ends. Shooting 40% on three shots this season, finished second in the country in transition thanks to his ability to push the ball aggressively away from the defensive glass and demonstrate his ability to punish smaller post players . Perhaps the most interesting thing from an NBA point of view is the way he defended the field for Iowa State, whether on top of the pressure of the packed stadium from the Hawkeyes, switching to smaller players in pick-and-play coverage. -roll or using the positions body in paint.
“Before I came to Iowa, I always played small forward,” Murray said. «It was the first time he played 4 and 5. We were kids in the Big Ten. I would do whatever it takes to win because of my skill set. This year I needed to play 5. I feel like in the NBA, I can play 2-5 5. I can adapt to whatever position I play.
“I am looking forward to showing my versatility to NBA teams on both ends of the field. I am much more athletic than people think. I am a competitive player as far as it goes. because of my facial expressions, but I love basketball and competing every night has been a blessing for me.” I don’t care where they hire me. I want to be in the best possible position and play for a team. I value my game and understand where I can excel.”
The NBA Draft will take place May 16-22 in Chicago, with the draft taking place June 23 in Brooklyn, New York.
