Former Greenfield star Murphy transfers to Mount Olive, makes college debut in Wilson
By Andrew Schnittker
aschnittker@wilsontimes.com
Wilson County basketball fans in attendance for Wednesday night’s showdown between Barton College and Mount Olive at Wilson Gymnasium saw a familiar face – wearing a familiar set of colors – check into the game for the Trojans in the first quarter.
Aaron Murphy, who starred for Greenfield School during the last two seasons of his high school career, made his collegiate debut for Mount Olive.
“It was amazing,” Murphy said. “So many wins here in high school, so many memories, relationships. I’ve seen some old people in the crowd that used to come to my games at Greenfield that just showed love.”
Murphy signed with NCAA Division I Queens University out of high school, but said he simply didn’t feel a fit there.
So, last semester, Murphy decided to enter the transfer portal, and look to play closer to his family’s home in Greenville.
“A lot was going on at Queens,” Murphy said. “I wanted to stop playing basketball for a few months and wanted to come back home. Green looked better on me anyway. The love there is not what I believed in and what I represent. … I’m just happy now.”
As he looked for a good fit closer to home, Murphy said that he quickly found that with the Trojans and head coach Dory Hines.
He said he already loves his new Mount Olive teammates, and feels there’s a bright future for the Trojans program.
“When I went into practice, I had another coach tell me that he believed in me,” Murphy said. “And I had my teammates tell me tonight that they believed in me. So I know this is the program for me.”
Murphy used to train with Dory Hines’ brother, Curtis, and Mount Olive’s bench boss was happy to add the former Knights star to his program.
“I’ve known Aaron for a long time,” Hines said. “He used to train with my brother, Curtis. When he hit the transfer portal, he called me and said, ‘Coach, I want to be there.’ I was excited, glad to have him. He’s an A-1 kid on and off the court.”
In addition to being a good fit for him on and off the court, Murphy said he was pleased that playing at Mount Olive would allow him to help his family.
“Being at Mount Olive, I’m going to be able to pay my Mom back for all the sacrifices she made,” Murphy said.
As fate would have it, Murphy would get to play his first college game a shade over four miles from the high school gym in which he made so many memories.
Murphy only arrived at Mount Olive at the start of this semester, and hadn’t had much practice time going into Wednesday night’s game.
Hines said he left the decision of whether or not he wanted to play up to Murphy, and Murphy himself was unsure. But, arriving in Wilson Wednesday, the decision became easy.
“Driving through Wilson, it energized me,” Murphy said. “I remembered the memories from last year.”
With a game under his belt, Murphy said he’s ready to keep growing into a bigger and bigger role for the Trojans as the season goes on.
Being at Mount Olive has rekindled his love for basketball, and he reiterated that he feels there’s a bright future for him in the program.
“It’s felt amazing,” Murphy said. “A few months ago, I wanted to quit playing basketball and withdraw from school. Now I’m happy. I’ve got a jersey on, and I’m happy.”
By Andrew Schnittker
aschnittker@wilsontimes.com
Wilson County basketball fans in attendance for Wednesday night’s showdown between Barton College and Mount Olive at Wilson Gymnasium saw a familiar face – wearing a familiar set of colors – check into the game for the Trojans in the first quarter.
Aaron Murphy, who starred for Greenfield School during the last two seasons of his high school career, made his collegiate debut for Mount Olive.
“It was amazing,” Murphy said. “So many wins here in high school, so many memories, relationships. I’ve seen some old people in the crowd that used to come to my games at Greenfield that just showed love.”
Murphy signed with NCAA Division I Queens University out of high school, but said he simply didn’t feel a fit there.
So, last semester, Murphy decided to enter the transfer portal, and look to play closer to his family’s home in Greenville.
“A lot was going on at Queens,” Murphy said. “I wanted to stop playing basketball for a few months and wanted to come back home. Green looked better on me anyway. The love there is not what I believed in and what I represent. … I’m just happy now.”
As he looked for a good fit closer to home, Murphy said that he quickly found that with the Trojans and head coach Dory Hines.
He said he already loves his new Mount Olive teammates, and feels there’s a bright future for the Trojans program.
“When I went into practice, I had another coach tell me that he believed in me,” Murphy said. “And I had my teammates tell me tonight that they believed in me. So I know this is the program for me.”
Murphy used to train with Dory Hines’ brother, Curtis, and Mount Olive’s bench boss was happy to add the former Knights star to his program.
“I’ve known Aaron for a long time,” Hines said. “He used to train with my brother, Curtis. When he hit the transfer portal, he called me and said, ‘Coach, I want to be there.’ I was excited, glad to have him. He’s an A-1 kid on and off the court.”
In addition to being a good fit for him on and off the court, Murphy said he was pleased that playing at Mount Olive would allow him to help his family.
“Being at Mount Olive, I’m going to be able to pay my Mom back for all the sacrifices she made,” Murphy said.
As fate would have it, Murphy would get to play his first college game a shade over four miles from the high school gym in which he made so many memories.
Murphy only arrived at Mount Olive at the start of this semester, and hadn’t had much practice time going into Wednesday night’s game.
Hines said he left the decision of whether or not he wanted to play up to Murphy, and Murphy himself was unsure. But, arriving in Wilson Wednesday, the decision became easy.
“Driving through Wilson, it energized me,” Murphy said. “I remembered the memories from last year.”
With a game under his belt, Murphy said he’s ready to keep growing into a bigger and bigger role for the Trojans as the season goes on.
Being at Mount Olive has rekindled his love for basketball, and he reiterated that he feels there’s a bright future for him in the program.
“It’s felt amazing,” Murphy said. “A few months ago, I wanted to quit playing basketball and withdraw from school. Now I’m happy. I’ve got a jersey on, and I’m happy.”