By JOSH NEWMAN
The Canadian National Team’s loss is the University of Kentucky’s gain when it comes to freshman point guard Jamal Murray.
With Murray, an 18-year-old who exploded with Canada at the Pan American Games last month, not able to play for his country at the upcoming FIBA Americas Championships, attention now turns to his freshman season in Lexington. Slotted as the No. 6 pick by DraftExpress in the 2017 NBA Draft, big things are expected of Murray and at least one observer believes he will live up to the hype.
“Jamal really, between the Nike Hoop Summit where he scored 30 and the job he did in the Pan Am Games against grown men, I think that elevated himself even more in the eyes of people that follow the game, particularly NBA scouts,” ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla told SNY.tv on The 4 Quarters Podcast Monday afternoon. “I think right now, he’s headed toward the middle of the Lottery or higher.
“I think the kid’s gonna average 17 points a game. I think you’ll see scoring come from guys like Skal Labissiere and Jamal Murray, first and foremost, and everybody else is gonna play around those guys. He can shoot the ball, he’s deceptively athletic and quick, he gets fouled a lot, has good passing vision to play point, can play off the ball. I think the kid has a bright future.”
Fraschilla also reiterated what many have said since Murray committed to head coach John Calipari and the Wildcats on June 24. Murray will create a 3-header monster in Calipari’s backcourt with sophomore Tyler Ulis and freshman Isaiah Briscoe, who led Roselle Catholic to last season’s NJSIAA Tournament of Champions crown.
“I think he’ll slide right into the backcourt with Isaiah Briscoe and Tyler Ulis,” Fraschilla said. “I think you’ll see a lot of 3-guard offense at times because I think those three guys are three of their best five players. I think Jamal Murray can play both on and off the ball. I think he’ll have absolutely no trouble playing with the other two guards I mentioned.”
With Murray at school, Canada is left to try and qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics without a player many considered to be the second-best point guard available behind Cory Joseph. Canada will open play at FIBA Americas on Sept. 1 against Argentina. The top two teams at FIBA Americas punch tickets to Rio, while the third, fourth and fifth-place teams will play in the World Qualifying Tournament next year. The top three teams from that 12-team event are also through to Rio.
Without Murray on the roster, there is no true point guard on the roster behind Joseph.
“It hurts Canada,” Fraschilla said. “As they get ready for the FIBA Americas tournament that starts next week, they don’t really have a backup point guard behind Cory Joseph. I don’t think they expected a month ago for Jamal Murray to be that guy, but he certainly would have been had he stayed on the national team.”
Olivier Hanlan, Brady Heslip, Nik Stauskas and Phil Scrubb make up Canada’s depth at guard outside of Joseph.
Canada is currently in Puerto Rico taking part in the Tuto Marchand Cup, an exhibition tuneup for FIBA Americas that also includes Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Canada opened Sunday with an 85-80 win over Argentina as reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins led four players in double-figures with 18 points.
With Canada currently carrying 13 players with only 12 allowed to dress, Joseph sat Sunday out.
