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| Photo: Canada Basketball |
KITCHENER — Basketball phenom Jamal Murray is taking his talents to Orangeville.
The highly touted point guard has closed the book on Grand River Collegiate Institute after two years and will pursue his dreams at the Athlete Institute Basketball Academy. Murray, 16, rejected numerous prep school opportunities in the United States in favour of the Athlete Institute, which bills itself as "a basketball preparatory educational program that prepares high school student athletes for competition at the post secondary level."
"I want to stay close to home while focusing on basketball and school ... I'm looking to get bigger, stronger and faster and maintain the grades I need (for college)," said Murray, whose parents Roger and Sylvia helped with the "family decision."
"I'll miss Grand River but I'll be back to visit. This was something I had to do."
The six-foot-four Murray shot to prominence in April when he was named MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic international game at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, N.Y., home of the NBA's Nets.
His star continued to shine brightly in June at the 2013 FIBA Americas under-16 championship in Uruguay as he averaged 17 points, six rebounds and 2.4 steals to lead the Canadian Cadets to a bronze medal. He was particularly solid in the final game against Puerto Rico, going nine-for-nine from the free-throw line on his way to a 15-point performance that also included three rebounds, three assists and four steals.
He also excelled with the Brampton-based CIA Bounce squad on the Nike EYBL circuit and recently showcased his skills against older players at the Nike Global Challenge for 80 of the top American, Canadian, African, Brazilian and French 19-and-under prospects.
"We're excited that Jamal wants to stay close to home and we're thrilled that he believes we can help him take the next step as a person and a player," said Dave Magley, the director of basketball at Athlete Institute.
"This is not a young man that's been coddled and told he's the greatest since he was 11 years old, this is a young man that's just now coming into his own. His upside is unbelievable and he's passing a lot of kids that have been ranked ahead of him for many years."
That might be something of an understatement.
Murray has passed all the kids his age, according to northpolehoops.com, which lists him as the top Canadian high school prospect for 2016. The humble teen will be heavily recruited by NCAA Division 1 scouts in the coming months and he's already being compared, perhaps unfairly, with Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, former CIA Bounce players that have gone on to bigger and better things.
Just don't expect Murray to bite when asked whether he's buying into all the love that's being sent his way.
"I'm not making a big deal of it. It's nice for a day or two but there's nothing really to it," he said.
Murray will attend Orangeville District Secondary School while attending the Athlete Institute, which started its basketball academy just three years ago. His new team plays tournaments and exhibition games all over North America, as well as against Ontario teams that compete in the National Prep School Athletic Association.
Murray won't have long to settle into his new digs as he's been selected to represent Canada at the Sept. 26-29 FIBA 3x3 under-18 world championship in Jakarta, Indonesia. He'll prepare for that event over the upcoming Labour Day weekend when he participates in a 3x3 championship outside Washington, D.C.
