Ole Miss G Matthew Murrell Garnering Buzz After Pro Day At NBA Combine
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Ole Miss Rebels guard Matthew Murrell had a very poor pre-NBA draft process, but his stock has now soared compared to what it once was.
Murrell maintained his eligibility when he declared for the draft and he still can, but ESPN pointed out one workout that turned the tide for his draft stock.
"Not drawing a great deal of interest from NBA teams, he looked all but set to return to Ole Miss next season — where a new coaching staff by Chris Beard awaits him — before giving NBA teams one last glimpse of him at his agency's pro day in the last day of the NBA draft combine," ESPN wrote. "Murrell took advantage of the platform and then some, looking like one of the most vertically explosive athletes in the class while shooting the ball better than expected in drills and making several eye-popping plays that only a handful of players outside the NBA are capable of."
The No. 47 recruit in the class of 2020, Murrell averaged less than 20 minutes per game, scoring 118 points and grabbing 56 rebounds in 28 games.
The 6-4, 200-pound guard took the developmental step in year two, starting 23 of 30 games he appeared in and averaging 12 points on 42.2 percent shooting from the field and 39.2 percent from deep. Against Mississippi State Jan. 8, 2022, Murrell was lights out, knocking down 10 shots on 11 attempts and all five from 3 for a career-high 31 points.
That same incremental improvement from year one to year two wasn't seen as drastically from his sophomore to junior season, scoring 2.4 more points and hauling in 0.5 more rebounds per game.
Murrell shooting from the field decreased, but he shot 84.3 percent from the charity stripe — the third-highest clip in the Southeastern Conference.
At the G League Elite camp, the Memphis, TN. native scored 13 points in 34 minutes of floor time.
"Coming off a somewhat underwhelming junior season at Ole Miss, Murrell didn't have a great showing at the G League Elite camp, posting just 13 points on 15 field goal attempts in 34 minutes of action.
"His pro day experience has rekindled the interest he's garnering among NBA teams, leading to a flurry of workout invites," ESPN said. "He still has work to do to receive the type of assurances he's hoping for in order to keep his name in the draft."
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