Lee Academy Forward Headed to Pac 10
Rhys Murphy was one of the hottest names on the circuit this summer as the Australian native had a long list of coaches who were captivated by his combination of skill and athleticism.
Having acquired so many potential suitors during the summer, it looked like it was going to be a busy pre-season at Lee Academy. But unfortunately, Murphy spent his first few months on campus out with an injury, which delayed his recruitment a little bit.
But when the 6’7” forward returned to the court last month, there were several schools that were all too eager to get another look. Oregon State, Davidson, and Wake Forest are just a few who made the trip to New England.
This past weekend, Murphy decided he had seen and heard all he needed, and he made his decision. He’ll be headed to the Pac 10 next year to play for Craig Robinson and Oregon State.
“It was the only high major offer I had,” Murphy told Scout.com’s Evan Daniels, “and I think that’s the best decision for me to take my game to the next level.”
Murphy will also have the benefit of teaming with a familiar face, as his former AAU teammate and fellow Australian native, Angus Brandt, also made a recent commitment to the Beavers.
“It really didn’t factor into my decision,” Murphy told Daniels. “We made our decisions separate.”
Oregon State has traditionally been one of the weaker programs in the Pac-10, but this year has seen a revitalization of sorts under former Brown head coach Craig Robinson. After not winning a single game on their conference schedule last year and consequently finishing dead last, the Beavers are currently 13-13 including 7-8 in the Pac 10.
“Coach Robinson is already turning things around and hopefully when he gets the players he has recruited we can do something special,” Murphy said.
Murphy would appear to be a perfect fit for the Princeton style offense that Robinson, a Princeton alum, has been running at Oregon State.
Standing at 6’7”, he has the size of a forward but the skill set of a guard, including picture perfect shooting mechanics and a great touch from behind the three-point line. Because he is so fundamentally sound, most people don’t realize that Murphy has only been playing competitive basketball for the last two years. That’s because he spent the better part of his youth training to be a competitive high jumper, once clearing a mark of 7 feet and 2 inches.
Put it all together – size, skill set, and athleticism – and you have a player who has the upside to eventually be an impact player at Oregon State.
Rhys Murphy