Analysis: Bulls add four-star Murphy to 2020 class
The USF basketball program picked up a commitment from class of 2020 Grayson (Ga.) High School guard Caleb Murphy Sunday evening. Here’s what his addition means for the future of the program.
BULLS CONTINUE GEORGIA PIPELINE
The state of Georgia has been good to Brian Gregory and USF – so has Youngstown, Ohio but more on that in a moment. The Bulls landed Peach State natives Rashun Williams and Michael Durr in the 2018 class, added Jamir Chaplin in the 2019 class and Murphy, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio like David Collins, makes it three consecutive recruiting cycles that the Bulls have landed a commitment from a prospect with ties to Georgia. Landing Murphy, currently the No. 52 ranked prospect in the Rivals150, is a big coup for USF, who need backcourt reinforcements with Laquincy Rideau graduating in May.
AN IDEAL COMPLEMENT TO CASTANEDA
It’s no guarantee Murphy will start his freshman year with Xavier Castaneda, Zack Dawson and Collins all projected to be on the roster, but he will be an immediate impact player as one of the quickest and toughest guards in The American. Murphy will demand defensive attention as soon as he crosses half court. He can breakdown almost any defender and get to wherever he wants on the court with the ball. His jump shot is an area in need of improvement but his defense sure isn’t. Murphy gets into guys.
DIXON STAYS HOT
Assistant coach Larry Dixon, was the lead man on each of the Bulls three most recent commitments and deserves credit for keeping the Georgia pipeline open. Dixon landed Chaplin over Drexel and Georgia State, he swooped in on B.J. Mack, a one-time Virginia Tech commit, securing his commitment over Arkansas, DePaul and East Carolina, and now he outworked TCU, Florida, plus a host of other SEC, ACC and Big 12 programs to earn Murphy’s pledge.
PROGRAM CULTURE HELPS SEAL THE DEAL
Yes, Murphy loved going to Clearwater Beach. Who wouldn't.
More importantly though was the feeling he got hanging out with the team during his visit. Whether it was on campus, at lunch, at the football game (despite the results on the field), watching the team workout, getting to know all of the players as well as the entire coaching staff was important. Seeing how the strength and conditioning coach puts a plan together for each freshman, and the academic support team the USF men’s basketball program had a significant impact on Murphy and his parents. Murphy is the kind of prospect who could go to just about any program he wanted to, but the culture at USF that he decided to end his recruitment before taking any other official visits this fall.
MOMENTUM
Coming off of a magical season that saw USF win a program record 24-games, 14 more games than in the 2017-18 season, the 2019 College Basketball Invitational, have a trio of players earn all-conference recognition, the Bulls carried that momentum onto the recruiting trail. For the third consecutive year the staff turned a Labor Day Weekend official visit into a verbal commitment -- this time from a four-star prospect ranked No. 52 in the Rivals150.