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Jamal Murray Won’t Play For Team Canada, But He Should

By Michael Whitlow

Mar 7, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; The Kentucky Wildcats cheerleaders perform during the game against theFlorida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Florida Gators 67-50. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; The Kentucky Wildcats cheerleaders perform during the game against theFlorida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Florida Gators 67-50. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Disclaimer: Before I get started, I understand that Jamal Murray has to arrive on campus before/on a certain date or his amateur status would be gone.

There’s no debating the situation: Jamal Murray needs to play for Team Canada in the upcoming FIBA Americas Championship from Aug. 31-Sept. 12.

If you ask any writer, fan, or supporter who has followed basketball north of the border recently, you would get a rave review about Jamal Murray and his game. The 6-foot-4, 18-year-old guard from Kitchener, Canada has had a huge 2015 campaign, and his time with the Kentucky program has yet to begin.

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To sum up Jamal Murray during 2015, look no further than his play at the Nike Hoop Summit back in April, his reclassification to the 2015 class (followed by his commitment to Kentucky), and helping Team Canada win the silver medal in the Pan American Games.

You didn’t have to look at Murray’s overall numbers to see his impact for the World Team in Portland and Team Canada during the PanAm Games. The most noticeable trait of Murray’s game was his ability to make the simple (and smart) play. Even as the backup point guard for Canada, Murray was one of the most important players on the roster as the tournament went on.

Nike Hoops Summit – 12-of-23 shooting for 30 points (3-of-7 from three-point range), five assists

Team Canada at PanAm Games (4-1) – 80 total points on 49.4 percent shooting and 12 total assists

Canada will be just fine heading to Mexico City at the end of the month, but it seems like there will be an intricate void left by Murray’s absence. Murray, along with stars such as San Antonio Spurs guard Cory Joseph and Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Andrew Wiggins leading a new revolution of hoops north of the border, would have been a fun sight to see for the Canadians in the upcoming tourney.

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Sure, it makes total sense to keep Murray in Lexington — Kentucky’s fall semester of classes start on Aug. 26 — but the thought of not seeing one of Canada’s brightest young stars take the floor for them in Mexico City is a bummer. This is where the words, “student-athlete,” get thrown into the equation, but this would have been a fantastic opportunity for Murray to further show how bright his future will be.

TSN reporter Josh Lewenburg has been around the Team Canada camp heading into the FIBA Americas Championship, and from the sound of things, if it would have been cleared by Kentucky and the NCAA, Murray would be on the Team Canada roster once again for the Olympic qualifying tournament:

"“At one point, the idea of Murray breaking camp over some more experienced players at his position seemed like a stretch but after blossoming in a key role for that silver medal-winning team, they would love to have him in Mexico.“However, with Kentucky’s first semester scheduled to begin before the tournament opens, his availability remains uncertain. Triano, Steve Nash and Canada Basketball officials are in contact with famed Kentucky coach John Calipari and the NCAA daily, hoping to work something out that would allow Murray to participate in the qualifier. Regardless, they’re happy to have him with the team for workouts this week as he continues to learn and develop.”"

There’s no telling what could have happened for Murray if he performed at a high level during the FIBA tournament. The word “lock” might be a little strong at this point, but there was a great chance that Murray could play for Team Canada in next summer’s Olympics down in Brazil if he performed well in Mexico City.

As for Murray and basketball below the Canadian border, he’ll be one of the catalysts for yet another star-studded roster in Lexington for head coach John Calipari. Murray will join the returning Tyler Ulis and Dominique Hawkins for the Wildcats, who rose to No. 2 on most recruiting class boards after Murray reclassified and committed to Kentucky over Oregon back in June.

If all goes according to plan for Murray, he’ll be playing in Houston for the Final Four in April, drafted high in the lottery during next June’s NBA Draft, and suiting up for Team Canada during the 2016 Olympic Games in August.

Next: When John Calipari Speaks, We All Listen Intently

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