Greenfield's Murphy realizes life long dream in signing with Queens
By Andrew Schnittker
aschnittker@wilsontimes.com |252-265-7807 | Twitter: @aschnitt53
Since he was 5 years old, watching his oldest brother play basketball in his driveway, Aaron Murphy has had a dream: Playing college basketball. On Wednesday in the Greenfield gym, the Knights’ star senior realized that dream, as, at a signing ceremony that included his family, friends, teammates, coaches and teachers, he signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his playing career at Queens University in Charlotte.
After signing his letter, Murphy took a moment to reflect on achieving his long-held goal.
“It means that I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me,” Murphy said. “My friends, my teachers, my coaches, they all believed in me and I got it done, but I’m not finished.”
Murphy, the son of Shontell and Xavier Lane of Winterville, also had interest from Presbyterian, Gardner-Webb, Hampton, Citadel, VMI, Mt. Olive, Radford, Campbell and East Carolina.
Murphy said that meeting with Royals head coach Bart Lundy and his staff, as well as his future teammates, helped him see a fit for himself at Queens, which will shift from Division II to Division I next season.
“The city, the people around the school and the people inside the school,” Murphy said. “Of course, the team will do very well and I can fit in well. But the coach and the type of players they are, the type of character they have, they’re really good people and I can see myself in them.”
Murphy transferred to Greenfield for his junior year after spending his first two years of high school playing football and basketball at J.H. Rose in Greenville.
He’s been a star for the Knights, and helped his team to the third round of the NCISAA 1-A state playoffs last year and a 15-5 start this year.
Knights head coach Rob Salter praised Murphy for his versatility, noting his ability to both play an inside game and knock down shots from the perimeter.
“I always tell people Aaron’s an old-school type player,” Salter said. “He’s the type of player you saw 20 years ago that just did what you needed to do to win. A lot of kids these days don’t want to be considered a post player or don’t want to be considered this. Aaron’s going to do what you need to win. His versatility is fantastic. … What he’s brought is the unselfishness to do what it takes for us to win. He doesn’t complain if I ask him to be inside, and he doesn’t complain if I ask him to be outside. He knows that he’s a mismatch on the floor at all times. … So he’s been a lot of fun to coach.”
In addition to his prowess on the court, Murphy’s leadership and demeanor off of it has defined him in his Greenfield career.
“He’s a role model,” Salter said. “He’s a fantastic teammate. All the intangibles you look for in a special player, you see his talent, but those intangibles of pushing his teammates, being there, wanting to be pushed, he asks his teammates to push him. That’s what he’s brought, just the accountability. The overall definition of a really good basketball player, that’s what Aaron is.”
Murphy hopes to bring that leadership and unselfishness with him to the college game, as he looks to make his mark at Queens and continue to grow his game.
“Putting my team before myself,” Murphy said. “Giving a guy a good pass and he’s finishing the shot. Or I can be that guy to set a screen for him and he’s finishing the shot. Just being a team player first.”
Murphy also said he wants to improve his conditioning and get stronger so he can maintain his form late in games, and improve his shooting, as he has more goals in mind after college of playing professionally.
In playing at the next level, Murphy will get a chance to represent Greenfield’s program, and follow in the footsteps of others who came before him, such as Coby White, who played at UNC and currently plays for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA.
“It’s a blessing,” Murphy said. “Those guys, some of them are in the NBA, some of them are overseas. For me to be a part of that, it’s incredible. It makes me smile to this day.”
While there’s still plenty that Murphy and his teammates want to accomplish in his senior season at Greenfield, he knows it won’t be the end of his basketball career.
And, if his time at Greenfield is anything to judge by, Queens is getting a talented, motivated player that will help elevate its program on and off the court.
“This is what he wanted to do,” Salter said. “This is his dream. He’s worked hard for it. … They got a special kid. That’s the thing about Aaron. He’s a fantastic player, but he’s a better person. He’s a fantastic leader. He’s a fantastic role model for our program and school. I’m just so proud of who he is, and not just the basketball player.”
By Andrew Schnittker
aschnittker@wilsontimes.com |252-265-7807 | Twitter: @aschnitt53
Since he was 5 years old, watching his oldest brother play basketball in his driveway, Aaron Murphy has had a dream: Playing college basketball. On Wednesday in the Greenfield gym, the Knights’ star senior realized that dream, as, at a signing ceremony that included his family, friends, teammates, coaches and teachers, he signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his playing career at Queens University in Charlotte.
After signing his letter, Murphy took a moment to reflect on achieving his long-held goal.
“It means that I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me,” Murphy said. “My friends, my teachers, my coaches, they all believed in me and I got it done, but I’m not finished.”
Murphy, the son of Shontell and Xavier Lane of Winterville, also had interest from Presbyterian, Gardner-Webb, Hampton, Citadel, VMI, Mt. Olive, Radford, Campbell and East Carolina.
Murphy said that meeting with Royals head coach Bart Lundy and his staff, as well as his future teammates, helped him see a fit for himself at Queens, which will shift from Division II to Division I next season.
“The city, the people around the school and the people inside the school,” Murphy said. “Of course, the team will do very well and I can fit in well. But the coach and the type of players they are, the type of character they have, they’re really good people and I can see myself in them.”
Murphy transferred to Greenfield for his junior year after spending his first two years of high school playing football and basketball at J.H. Rose in Greenville.
He’s been a star for the Knights, and helped his team to the third round of the NCISAA 1-A state playoffs last year and a 15-5 start this year.
Knights head coach Rob Salter praised Murphy for his versatility, noting his ability to both play an inside game and knock down shots from the perimeter.
“I always tell people Aaron’s an old-school type player,” Salter said. “He’s the type of player you saw 20 years ago that just did what you needed to do to win. A lot of kids these days don’t want to be considered a post player or don’t want to be considered this. Aaron’s going to do what you need to win. His versatility is fantastic. … What he’s brought is the unselfishness to do what it takes for us to win. He doesn’t complain if I ask him to be inside, and he doesn’t complain if I ask him to be outside. He knows that he’s a mismatch on the floor at all times. … So he’s been a lot of fun to coach.”
In addition to his prowess on the court, Murphy’s leadership and demeanor off of it has defined him in his Greenfield career.
“He’s a role model,” Salter said. “He’s a fantastic teammate. All the intangibles you look for in a special player, you see his talent, but those intangibles of pushing his teammates, being there, wanting to be pushed, he asks his teammates to push him. That’s what he’s brought, just the accountability. The overall definition of a really good basketball player, that’s what Aaron is.”
Murphy hopes to bring that leadership and unselfishness with him to the college game, as he looks to make his mark at Queens and continue to grow his game.
“Putting my team before myself,” Murphy said. “Giving a guy a good pass and he’s finishing the shot. Or I can be that guy to set a screen for him and he’s finishing the shot. Just being a team player first.”
Murphy also said he wants to improve his conditioning and get stronger so he can maintain his form late in games, and improve his shooting, as he has more goals in mind after college of playing professionally.
In playing at the next level, Murphy will get a chance to represent Greenfield’s program, and follow in the footsteps of others who came before him, such as Coby White, who played at UNC and currently plays for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA.
“It’s a blessing,” Murphy said. “Those guys, some of them are in the NBA, some of them are overseas. For me to be a part of that, it’s incredible. It makes me smile to this day.”
While there’s still plenty that Murphy and his teammates want to accomplish in his senior season at Greenfield, he knows it won’t be the end of his basketball career.
And, if his time at Greenfield is anything to judge by, Queens is getting a talented, motivated player that will help elevate its program on and off the court.
“This is what he wanted to do,” Salter said. “This is his dream. He’s worked hard for it. … They got a special kid. That’s the thing about Aaron. He’s a fantastic player, but he’s a better person. He’s a fantastic leader. He’s a fantastic role model for our program and school. I’m just so proud of who he is, and not just the basketball player.”
