The Iowa sophomore will enter the NBA draft.
I am forever grateful to Coach McCaffery for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream.
Murray was named a consensus first-team All-American after he averaged 23.5 points, 8.7 rebound and 1.9 blocks in 32 minutes per game. He scored a record 103 points in four games and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten tournament.
He is a finalist for several prestigious awards in college basketball, including the Wooden, Naismith and Lute Olson awards, all of which are presented annually to the top player in Division I men's basketball.
Murray was a potential top-five pick this June. After graduating from Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with only one Division I scholarship offer from Western Illinois, he and his twin brother spent a year at the DME Academy in Florida.
I went into my first year at Iowa trying to learn, and I had the national player of the year on our team. My goal was to learn from them and establish what I can do to get minutes and benefit our team, which meant being a hustle guy and really solid defensively. I tried to fill that role the best I could.
Murray came off the bench as a freshman and averaged 7.2 points in 18 minutes per game. He was the best player in college basketball as a sophomore, ranking fourth in the country in scoring and first in player efficiency rating.
Murray put on 15 pounds and was able to increase his vertical leap. Coming into college, I was 205 pounds. I grew to between 220 to225 pounds, which helped a lot.
Murray was projected to be a first-round pick, but quickly became one of the best NBA prospects in all of college basketball, as a 6-9 forward with a modern skill set and outstandingVersatility on both ends of the floor. He shot 40% on 3-pointers this season, finished second in the country in transition scoring, and proved to be capable of punishing smaller players inside the post thanks to his ability to push the ball aggressively off the defensive glass. The way he defended all over the floor for Iowa, be it leading the top of the Hawkeyes full-court press, switch onto smaller players in pick-and-roll coverages, or putting a body on centers inside the paint, is perhaps most interesting from an NBA standpoint.
Murray played on the wing before he came to Iowa. We were small in the Big Ten. I will do whatever it takes to win. I needed to play the 5. I can play 2 to 5 in the NBA. I can adapt to any position.
I am looking forward to showing NBA teams my ability on both ends of the court. I am more athletic than people think. I am as competitive as you are going to get. I love the game of basketball and competing every single night was a blessing for me. I don't worry about what spot I get drafted. I want to play for a team that values my game and understands what I can excel at.
The NBA draft combine will take place in Chicago in May, and the draft will take place in New York in June.