Florida forward Alex Murphy will continue a critical offseason with a chance to shine on an international stage.
Murphy is leaving for Finland on Saturday to practice with the Finnish National Team and will compete for the country from July 3-14 at the 2015 World University Games.
Murphy’s mother, Paivi, is from Finland, which qualifies all three of the family sons to play for Finland in international competition. Former Gator forward Erik Murphy played for Finland in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
A transfer from Duke, Alex Murphy became eligible to play for the Gators in mid-December and averaged 5.1 points while shooting 45.7 percent. The 6-foot-7 Murphy showed flashes of athleticism finishing in transition for the Gators last season, but free-throw shooting (61.4 percent) and perimeter shooting (18.2 percent from 3-point range) will be key areas where he will need to show growth and improvement next season.
Other notes:
– An NBA scout told me on Thursday he thinks Florida junior guard Michael Frazier II has a strong chance to be picked in the second round in next week’s NBA draft, based on his performance in last month’s combine. “He was terrific, made shots, ran the floor, the whole bit,” the scout said. “You will never have more eyes on you than at the combine.” As for former Gator center Chris Walker, the scout wasn’t as optimistic: “Great physical tools, but still needs to learn to play. It’s a shame. He really needs another year or two of college.”
– Former Gator point guard Scottie Wilbekin and 2014 SEC player of the year Scottie Wilbekin will be holding an elite youth basketball camp at The Rock School from June 29-July 1. The camp is open for kids ages 8-14 (email
[email protected] for registration information). Wilbekin is among a handful of former Gator players back in town working out at UF’s complex, including Chicago Bulls standout Joakim Noah, former Gator forward Casey Prather and former Gator point guard Taurean Green.
– Former Gator guard Eli Carter has crossed Boston College off his list and visited UNLV instead. It looks like it will be down to UNLV and Georgetown as transfer destinations for Carter, though he hasn’t ruled out possibly returning to UF.
– David Lee and Marreesse Speights became the seventh and eighth former Gator players to earn NBA championship rings when the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s the fifth straight year that a Gator player has been part of an NBA title-winning team.
Here’s the full list:
1994
Vernon Maxwell
Houston Rockets
1995
Vernon Maxwell
Houston Rockets
2006
Udonis Haslem, Jason Williams
Miami Heat
2007
Matt Bonner
San Antonio Spurs
2011
Corey Brewer
Dallas Mavericks
2012
Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller
Miami Heat
2013
Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller
Miami Heat
2014
Matt Bonner
San Antonio Spurs
2015
David Lee, Marreese Speights
Golden State Warriors
