IOWA CITY, Iowa – Keegan Murray made a significant impact on the Iowa basketball team last season, leaving a lasting legacy.
Now is the time for his twin to do his thing in 2022-23. Kris Murray is ready for the moment, but he plans to do things his way.
“I’m definitely a more independent person,” Kris said. “I want to have that impact on this team, apart from Keegan. I think my legacy is going to be different here in Iowa. The one he left behind was just a platform for the rest of our team to grow and for me to step into the role that I had last year.”
That opens the door to great expectations. Ditto for the fact that Field of 68 had Murray number three on its list of the top 25 emerging star candidates for next season. He has also been listed as the NBA’s top Big Ten prospect. Kris wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I want to have high expectations,” he said. “I have high expectations for myself. I’ll take that. I think I probably won’t average as much as (Keegan) did. I think I’m more of a facilitator than him. But you will see different stats of mine going up. You’ll see a lot of people on this team have grown this offseason. I think we will really have a balanced team. We can go a long way.”
The twins, on the same basketball team since the second grade, are now separated. Keegan is leaving for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, with a multimillion-dollar contract and a bright future after being the fourth player selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.
“It’s kind of weird, because it’s the first time we’ve been on opposing teams,” Kris said. “It’s been fun so far.”
Kris also made himself eligible for the NBA Draft, and had several two-way offers from NBA teams on the table had he turned pro. But he chose to return to Iowa for his junior season.
“I wanted to go back and experience the college basketball season one more time, lead this team and go through that again,” Kris said. “By going to the NBA, I will always have the opportunity to make money and be able to showcase my talent on a national level. But having the college experience and being able to distance myself from Keegan a little bit and take a leadership role, and be aware of the scouting reports this year, will help me a lot in my future.”
He accepts the duties of leadership, although he admits that he will do so with actions rather than words.
“Accountability is a big thing on our team,” Kris said. “Make sure everyone brings it every day. We have a great group of leaders this year because we are a bigger team. Guys who’ve been through it and know what it takes to be successful.”
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery knows Kris won’t motivate with his voice.
“He’s not going to be screaming and yelling,” McCaffery said. “But he has really prepared himself for this opportunity. Since the end of the season, he was in Chicago with his brother working out. He is in very good shape physically. He has played very well in our workouts both on the perimeter and in the post. He is playing with a lot of confidence, as expected. He would encourage him to speak up more and take on that responsibility. Connor (McCaffery) is pretty much the guy to do that. But Kris will be one of those guys. He commands respect. So when he does something, people are going to listen to him.”
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Getting into the draft and being exposed firsthand to the game at the next level made Murray a better player.
“More on the mental side of basketball,” he said. “You can’t take any plays away from you, especially at that level. You have to bring your “A” game, even if you don’t feel like it. On the court, be more active in my catches. You have to have split-second reactions in the NBA. You can’t be patient and let the defense come to you.”
Kris has worked on her upper body to improve her core strength and her lower body to improve her mobility. She also added three or four pounds of muscle to her frame and improved her diet after having a lingering illness for much of the Big Ten regular-season campaign a year ago.
A game that gave a glimpse of what Kris could bring to this team next season came on January 1. Jan. 13, 2022. Iowa was 1-3 in Big Ten play when Indiana arrived at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Keegan Murray got into foul trouble, playing just 22 minutes and finishing with 12 points. Kris filled the void by scoring a career-high 29 points in 28 minutes, shooting 12-for-18 from the field and adding three blocks, three steals and committing just one turnover.
“That was one of those games where I found my groove,” Kris said. “That game gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year. It showed everything I can do and the potential I have.”
Kris could have spent a week in Las Vegas with his family earlier this month, watching Keegan win MVP honors in the 2022 NBA Summer League. He chose to stay in Iowa City with his teammates.
“We had a week of workouts,” Kris said. “I can’t miss them.”
Keegan made his mark faster than Kris. He emerged as a freshman in the Big Ten game and was a vital piece of the rotation. Kris has limited minutes. Last season, Keegan again garnered most of the attention.
But ever since Hawkeye Kenyon Murray, her father and AAU coach during her sophomore season in high school, he was always there to cheer Kris on. Your time will come, the father told the son.
“He has always separated us,” Kris said. “He has had our best interests at heart, and he still does to this day. That’s what’s really special about him.”
The twins will meet next week. After finishing their careers at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School, they enrolled at the DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, and used the graduate year to work on their games and hopefully catch the eye of some recruiters. Iowa offered and they both accepted. Now, DME will honor the twins on July 28 by retiring their numbers.
“(DME) was a high school that took a chance on us and gave us the opportunity to showcase our abilities and give us the opportunity to be where we are today and be as successful as we have been,” Kris said. “It’s going to be really cool to go over there next week and have that ceremony with them.”
He will then return to Iowa for Kris, where he will embrace expectations and attempt to create his own legacy. How does she plan to do it?
“Putting the team in the best position to go as far as possible,” Kris said. “Hopefully, we’ll play until April of this year.”
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