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DENVER — After winning the Big East Tournament championship at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, Isaiah Whitehead got a text from an old friend and teammate.
Kamari Murphy, a redshirt junior forward for Miami and Whitehead’s former Lincoln High school teammate, was texting to offer congratulations.
“I mean Kamari’s always been a brother to me basically since I was a freshman in high school when we played on the same team,” the 6-foot-4 Whitehead said in Denver where Seton Hall will play Gonzaga in a first-round Midwest Region game on Thursday. “But I’ve been following him a lot, he’s been having a tremendous season so far. I mean, he just hit me up after the Big East Tournament and told me to keep ballin’, just keep playing my game. Just stay confident and all the good things will happen.”
Across the country, the 6-8 Murphy and his Miami teammates will face Buffalo on Thursday in a South Region game in Providence. All told, there are three former Lincoln players in the Big Dance, including Seton Hall sophomore Desi Rodriguez.
“When [Seton Hall] won the Big East championship, I told [Whitehead], ‘Way to hold it down for us Lincoln guys,'” Murphy said in the Miami locker room at Dunkin’ Donuts Center. “It’s just wherever you go, we got that Lincoln stamp on us so it’s always good to represent.”
Whitehead and Murphy are both pursuing Hoop Dreams on opposite sides of the country — and in different ways.
After posting averages of 18.4 points, 5.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, the 6-foot-4 Whitehead has shown an ability to shake off a rough first collegiate season and become the blue-chip prospect that he was expected to be.
Facing No. 11 Gonzaga in the first round, Whitehead will be on the national stage and can show NBA personnel that he can make a jump to the best basketball league in the world.
ESPN’s Chad Ford, who has Whitehead listed as his 30th best prospect for this upcoming draft, wrote that the guard has the opportunity to skyrocket up draft boards with a successful tournament.
Though Gonzaga is a tough opponent with dangerous bigs in Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis,the Pirates are becoming a trendy pick in recent days to advance in the Big Dance. Jay Bilas of ESPN picked The Hall to make a Sweet 16 appearance, while his colleague Seth Greenberg one upped him and predicted the Pirates will be one of the Final Four teams standing.
Down in Miami, Murphy took notice of Whitehead and his current seven game hot streak – 25.3 points per game, 5.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds.
“Yeah, he’s gotten better every year since high school,” Murphy said. “I knew he had the potential in him, he just had to go out there and do it so I’m proud of him. We talk often so he knows that.”
For his part, Whitehead isn’t getting wrapped up in what could lie ahead come June.
“I really don’t know what the future holds,” he said. “If the opportunity presents itself, then I’ll take it. But other than that, man, I’m a Seton Hall Pirate.”
While Whitehead is still relatively young, Murphy is one of the sage veterans on Jim Larranaga’s Miami team. He’s already been to two NCAA Tournaments with Oklahoma State, but opted to transfer after his sophomore season and then sat out last year per NCAA transfer rules.
“Me and the coach [Travis Ford] just didn’t see eye-to-eye as far as my future, my game,” Murphy said of his time at Oklahoma State.
Asked if he was surprised about the reports that Ford is done at Oklahoma State, Murphy said, “When I was there they were talking about it…I don’t know if it’s official yet. But best of luck to him and his family. I made the decision on me.”
Coming out of Lincoln, Miami was one of his top three choices and he opted to come South when he transferred.
“I was going to come here out of high school, they were one of my top three,” Murphy said. “A lot of stuff was going on here at the time with Miami so I went a different route. But when I was transferring I reached out to ‘Coach L’ and we had a few conversations so that’s how it worked out.”
Murphy, 22, averaged 5.5 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Hurricanes and plays a key defensive roll in the paint.
“It gives you almost a weapon defensively when you have guys that are versatile there,” Miami assistant Chris Caputo said.
He also provides an experienced NCAA Tournament vet in the locker room.
“We lost in the first round each of my times here [in the NCAA Tournament] so my message to these guys is don’t overlook anybody,” he said. “Just take it one game at a time.”
He added: “I’m definitely more motivated now and I have more confidence now than when I went with the other team, so I think this time around it will be more fun. And of course like any team we’re looking to win.”
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