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A Closer Look: Tomas Murphy

Murphy.jpg

Friarbasketball.com will take a closer look at a number of key Friar targets. Our staff will continue to provide reports on the top Friar targets throughout the year, and provide updates on prospects that have been previously featured. 

Prospect: Tomas Murphy

Position: PF

School: Northfield Mount Hermon

AAU Program: New England Playaz

Class: 2017

Overview:

Tomas Murphy is the youngest of the Murphy Brothers from Rhode Island’s First Family of Basketball. His oldest brother Eric graduated from Florida and has spent the past two years rotating between the NBA and the D League. His other brother Alex is going to be a senior at the University of Florida. His father Jay spent four years in the NBA after a standout career at Boston College and his mother Paivi played on the Finnish national junior team.

Tomas has great size for a power forward at 6’9 (and still growing). He combines a good outside shooting touch with great footwork and developing moves around the basket. Murphy also has great hands for a big man and sees the court very well. Here is a highlight mix-tape of him in action:

Murphy currently plays for Northfield Mount Hermon in the prestigious NEPSAC Class AAA against the best competition in the country, including teams such as Brewster Academy and New Hampton Prep. He regularly competes against top 100 big men both in practice and in games.

First Hand Impressions:

I have seen Murphy play in person numerous times and he seems to get a little better every time I see him. He is already a solid athlete and should get even better once he stops growing. He has already filled out a little but will still need to put on weight for the next level.

Most recently I saw him help his New England Playaz 17 and under team win the championship at the Providence Jamfest. He more than held his own against older competition and demonstrated his full arsenal of inside moves and outside shooting touch during the tournament.

What Others are Saying:

ESPN says “Murphy’s got inside-out tools and projects to be a highly versatile four-man by the time he’s done. He has super soft hands, great dexterity, and feathery touch around the rim. He’s been well schooled with good footwork and an understanding of how to play the high-low game both from the low and high posts. He’s a solid athlete for his size, changes ends fine, and has touch out to the three-point line.”

NERR says that “Murphy has gained strength over the past few months, he is beginning to overpower opposing defenders down low and on the wing. It’s a scary development for a sophomore who has long relied on finesse.” NERR currently has Murphy ranked as the second best player in New England for the class of 2017.

24/7 Sports says that “Murphy is not only one of the top 2017 players nationally, but his style of play resembles exactly what any staff is looking for at the 3/4 position. He’s a skilled ball handler who is able to rebound the ball and push it on the break, has a very high basketball IQ, spreads the defense out with his shooting and makes good decision on the move.” They currently rank Murphy as the 40th best player nationally in the class of 2017.

The Competition:

Florida had been considered the clear frontrunner for Tomas Murphy but that situation could have changed since head coach Billy Donovan left for the NBA. Besides the Friars and Gators other teams recruiting Murphy hard are Maryland, Boston College, and URI. Expect many more programs to try and get involved over the next year.

Bottom Line:

The sky is the limit. He is still growing and is one of the younger players in the class of 2017 as he did not reclassify when he transferred to Northfield Mount Hermon. Look for Murphy to be one of the top priorities for Ed Cooley in the class of 2017. Cooley has a good relationship with the Murphy family and will personally recruit Murphy very hard if he feels that there is a chance that Tomas may want to stay local. It is long overdue for the Friars to have a native Rhode Islander starring at Providence College.

Mixtape Time:

Here are a couple of more highlight videos of Murphy courtesy of Ballas TV and 2eZ videos:

2 Comments

  1. Derec Lamendola

    May 27, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    Enenething Much ON CLACH COOOLLLEY And How IS LaDoante Henton Doing Criag LEIGHTON DEREC LAMENDOLA Enwnething KN LaDoante Henton Can YOU Chage COVER POST TO JUNIOR BENTEIL COACH COOOLLEY DEREC LAMENDOLA Linsday And Can You Do A Nether COVER POST NUMBER 1#1FAN DEREC LAMENDOLA A Closer LOOK Derec Lamemdola

  2. Mikey IntheClutch Mac

    May 28, 2015 at 4:14 am

    Unfortunately there is a 0% chance that Murphy is coming to Providence.

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