Jimmy V Classic notebook; 25 to 30 NBA scouts watched Tuesday’s game at Madison Square Garden
By ADAM ZAGORIA
NEW YORK — A slew of NBA scouts continue to turn out to watch Iowa star Kris Murray.
There were scouts from 25-30 NBA teams on hand for the Jimmy V Classic, and unfortunately Murray had a bad game against Duke’s huge interior of 7-footer Dereck Lively III, 6-10 Kyle Filipowski and 6-10 Ryan Young. He finished 3-of-9 for eight points, his lowest point total this season after he entered averaging 21.0 points.
“[It’s] hard to take much out of this game besides Kris not being his brother,” one NBA scout in attendance said, referring to Keegan Murray, Kris’s twin who is averaging 11.3 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Sacramento Kings, who took him with the No. 4 pick in this year’s Draft.
“His shot wasn’t falling a whole lot and he seemed to be pressing here some. We shouldn’t understate the jump he made though from last year to this year based off this game alone. I still question a bit his ability to manufacture his own points compared to being reliant on others for his points. Still need to see the finished package and how else he impacts the game without scoring.”
Kris Murray is currently projected as the No. 20 pick in next year’s draft by Tankathon and No. 33 by ESPN.com.
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said he thought Murray showed the scouts he’s a player.
“I thought he was really trying to be a player,” he said. “He didn’t force it. He played the game the right way. They were mugging him, they were chasing him around, they were switching onhim. He just kept trying, and I’m really proud of him for that.”
The 6-foot-8 junior entered averaging a double-double with 10.6 rebounds.
“He could be a lottery guy, he rebounds the ball, shoots it,” a second NBA scout in attendance said before the game.
“I like Kris,” said a third scout. “Not as tough or physically gifted as his brother but he’s talented enough to deserve a look.”
IOWA RECRUIT DOESN’T MAKE GAME
Iowa commit Ladji Dembele wasn’t able to attend the game because Iowa can’t leave tickets at an event like this.
The 6-foot-9 Dembele attends St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J., the same school that produced former NBA star J.R. Smith and where current UConn coach Dan Hurley once coached.
The three-star prospect chose the Hawkeyes on Nov. 16 over Wake Forest and Rutgers after previously considering others including Seton Hall, DePaul and Pitt.
He joined point guard Brock Harding, small forward Pryce Sandfort and center Owen Freeman in Iowa’s 2023 class.
“Laj is a terrific player, strong, athletic and versatile,” St. Benedict’s coach Mark Taylor told ZAGSBLOG.com. “He’s 6-9 and can post up and finish strong and extend the defense with the 3 ball. And he can defend multiple positions. He is going to be great in college and has a chance beyond that.”
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