Jamal Murray is 5-star SG recruit who recently committed to play for the Kentucky Wildcats next season. Kentucky boasted an illustrious 38-1 record last year (Their loss coming in the semifinal game of the NCAA tournament) and is coached by one of college’s best, John Calipari. It’s an easy decision to play for coach Cal, right?
Well, according to Jamal’s Father, Roger, Jamal rejected a million dollar contract to play overseas in favor of playing with the Wildcats.
https://twitter.com/HoopsHypeCA/status/617174799077494784
Even though Kentucky lost seven of its best players to the NBA draft, Murray joins a very strong freshman group being brought in to continue its winning tradition. Murray will be playing alongside Sophomore guard Tyler Ulis and Freshman center Skal Labissiere. Labissiere is a major talent and is projected to go first overall in DraftExpress’ very early 2016 NBA mock draft.
I also want to personally thank Murray for choosing school over thoughts of immediate fortune and fame. Gone are the times where student-athletes stay all four years at a university, but I still yearn for them. Where are the Michael Jordans, the Patrick Ewings, and the Damian Lillards, players who cherished their time in college, understanding it as an invaluable learning experience? What happened to staying with a coach, a team, and a program to see it achieve success?
The NBA is now inundated with players who spend one year in college and then declare for the draft, coined as the “one-and-done”. I commend Murray’s decision to forgo money for his college experience, and I hope to see him follow this tradition in staying to achieve his degree at Kentucky.
Here’s my advice: if you are being recruited by NBA teams after your freshman season, stay put; you are only going to get better and the NBA isn’t going anywhere. If you need any more convincing, listen to Alonzo Mourning talk about his alma mater in his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
