GoFundMe page set up for former CCS player Zach Murphy after shooting
By Brandon White bwhite@hendersondispatch.com; 252-436-2840
HENDERSON — Crossroads Christian is encouraging everyone in Vance County to support former student and standout men’s basketball player Zach Murphy, who was injured in a shooting on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh on Sunday evening.
CCS senior Asher Fulk, who is also on the men’s basketball team, was scared when he heard about what happened to his friend and former teammate, but was immediately motivated to set up a GoFundMe page that would help Murphy and his family pay for the extensive medical bills.
“I got the news at about 2:30 in the morning and I was worried that he wasn’t going to be OK,” Fulk said. “Zach is my guy. He’s one of my good friends and is like a brother to me. I was thankful to hear that he was going to be OK, but it was very scary to hear that something bad had happened to one of my good friends.”
Murphy arrived at CCS in 2019 as a transfer from Grace Christian’s basketball program. His talent and determination in practice impressed head coach Scottie Richardson, who inserted him into the starting lineup ahead of CCS’ season-opener against Friendship Christian.
Paired alongside fellow senior Taylor Bell, the duo made up one of the most efficient backcourts in the NCISAA, with Murphy ending his lone season at the school averaging 21.4 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game and 1.9 steals per game.
While Richardson said that he will always remember Murphy as a strong leader and a prolific scorer on the basketball court, he affirmed that Murphy’s ability to connect with teachers and students made him a valuable and respected member of the CCS student body.
“He made such a strong impact in a short amount of time,” Richardson said. “The preschool and elementary teachers were one of the first to reach out to me because they would ask Zach to come down and do storytime as a guest reader. He was so good with kids, but I’ve had staff members who are no longer affiliated with Crossroads that checked in due to the impact Zach had on them.”
After graduating from CCS during the summer, Murphy maintained his commitment to basketball and was carving out a significant role on Illinois Prep’s basketball team. Murphy had returned home during Thanksgiving break to visit family, friends and his former CCS teammates prior to the shooting.
Murphy currently faces a long recovery process with his nonlife-threatening injuries, but Fulk said he knows that his friend possesses the determination to come back stronger than before, and he intends to support Murphy in his rehabilitation long after he leaves the hospital.
“[Zach] cared so much for everybody on the team and he didn’t have to do that,” Fulk said. “He was good enough to the point where he could do his own thing, but he didn’t want to do that. He was friends with everyone and he always provided his best self regardless of what was going on.”
Murphy’s positive influence on the lives of everyone at CCS and in Vance County has been reflected in the first day since his GoFundMe page became active, as over 150 people have donated more than $5,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, which has already met half of Fulk’s desired goal of $10,000.
Richardson has been thrilled to see so many offer assistance to Murphy since the shooting took place, and attributes the influx of donations to the family atmosphere he and his staff have created at CCS over the past several years and how committed everyone is to helping students and faculty even after they move on from the school.
“This is a testament to what we do,” Richardson said. “We don’t want to coach you one or two years before you graduate. We want to coach you for life. Our family, which we call ‘Forever Colts,’ includes Zach, Taylor Bell, Cade Carlson and some guys that I didn’t coach like Tyler Logan. Our culture extends way beyond the years you participate as a current Colt, and we’re happy to see all of this support for Zach transpire.”
Richardson is optimistic that Murphy will make a full recovery by spring and resume playing basketball at the collegiate level. He and Fulk have not ruled out organizing additional fundraisers in the coming weeks, with Fulk planning to dedicate the 2020-21 season to Murphy and his impact on the program.
“We’re going to be there for Zach,” Fulk said. “We’re going to play this season for him. He loves to see us do good and we love to see him do good. He is a Colt for life and we all believe that. Zach Murphy is my guy and I love him.”
Anyone who wishes to donate money to assist Murphy and his family with medical expenses and after care can do so by accessing the GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-zach-mur phy039s-family.
By Brandon White bwhite@hendersondispatch.com; 252-436-2840
HENDERSON — Crossroads Christian is encouraging everyone in Vance County to support former student and standout men’s basketball player Zach Murphy, who was injured in a shooting on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh on Sunday evening.
CCS senior Asher Fulk, who is also on the men’s basketball team, was scared when he heard about what happened to his friend and former teammate, but was immediately motivated to set up a GoFundMe page that would help Murphy and his family pay for the extensive medical bills.
“I got the news at about 2:30 in the morning and I was worried that he wasn’t going to be OK,” Fulk said. “Zach is my guy. He’s one of my good friends and is like a brother to me. I was thankful to hear that he was going to be OK, but it was very scary to hear that something bad had happened to one of my good friends.”
Murphy arrived at CCS in 2019 as a transfer from Grace Christian’s basketball program. His talent and determination in practice impressed head coach Scottie Richardson, who inserted him into the starting lineup ahead of CCS’ season-opener against Friendship Christian.
Paired alongside fellow senior Taylor Bell, the duo made up one of the most efficient backcourts in the NCISAA, with Murphy ending his lone season at the school averaging 21.4 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game and 1.9 steals per game.
While Richardson said that he will always remember Murphy as a strong leader and a prolific scorer on the basketball court, he affirmed that Murphy’s ability to connect with teachers and students made him a valuable and respected member of the CCS student body.
“He made such a strong impact in a short amount of time,” Richardson said. “The preschool and elementary teachers were one of the first to reach out to me because they would ask Zach to come down and do storytime as a guest reader. He was so good with kids, but I’ve had staff members who are no longer affiliated with Crossroads that checked in due to the impact Zach had on them.”
After graduating from CCS during the summer, Murphy maintained his commitment to basketball and was carving out a significant role on Illinois Prep’s basketball team. Murphy had returned home during Thanksgiving break to visit family, friends and his former CCS teammates prior to the shooting.
Murphy currently faces a long recovery process with his nonlife-threatening injuries, but Fulk said he knows that his friend possesses the determination to come back stronger than before, and he intends to support Murphy in his rehabilitation long after he leaves the hospital.
“[Zach] cared so much for everybody on the team and he didn’t have to do that,” Fulk said. “He was good enough to the point where he could do his own thing, but he didn’t want to do that. He was friends with everyone and he always provided his best self regardless of what was going on.”
Murphy’s positive influence on the lives of everyone at CCS and in Vance County has been reflected in the first day since his GoFundMe page became active, as over 150 people have donated more than $5,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, which has already met half of Fulk’s desired goal of $10,000.
Richardson has been thrilled to see so many offer assistance to Murphy since the shooting took place, and attributes the influx of donations to the family atmosphere he and his staff have created at CCS over the past several years and how committed everyone is to helping students and faculty even after they move on from the school.
“This is a testament to what we do,” Richardson said. “We don’t want to coach you one or two years before you graduate. We want to coach you for life. Our family, which we call ‘Forever Colts,’ includes Zach, Taylor Bell, Cade Carlson and some guys that I didn’t coach like Tyler Logan. Our culture extends way beyond the years you participate as a current Colt, and we’re happy to see all of this support for Zach transpire.”
Richardson is optimistic that Murphy will make a full recovery by spring and resume playing basketball at the collegiate level. He and Fulk have not ruled out organizing additional fundraisers in the coming weeks, with Fulk planning to dedicate the 2020-21 season to Murphy and his impact on the program.
“We’re going to be there for Zach,” Fulk said. “We’re going to play this season for him. He loves to see us do good and we love to see him do good. He is a Colt for life and we all believe that. Zach Murphy is my guy and I love him.”
Anyone who wishes to donate money to assist Murphy and his family with medical expenses and after care can do so by accessing the GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-zach-mur phy039s-family.
