Murdaugh She Wrote
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There are numerous examples of players that naturally follow their father’s basketball footsteps, such as; Kyle Wiltjer, the son of Greg Wiltjer (1984 Team Canada Olympian); Julian Clarke, son of Norman Clarke (1988 Team Canada Olympian), and now introducing Terrell Murdaugh, son of former D-Leaguer, Willie Murdaugh. To these sets of fathers and sons, basketball is more than a game; it’s a form of love that is passed down through the game’s life lessons.
The passion that Murdaugh has for the game is evident from first sight. As a very defensive minded point guard, he gets this trait from his father, Willie Murdaugh, who had a fairly lengthy and successful basketball career which started at USC Upstate as Spartan, a program under the National Association of Intercollegiate Atheltics (NAIA). In the steals category he is second all-time for USC Upstate with 121 recorded. From an offensive standpoint, he is the programs’ all-time best long range shooter at 52.8 percent from three point land.
Shooting from long range is also an area of Terrell’s game that demonstrates a high level of confidence in his skill. While Terrell stands at 5’8, he creates havoc for his defenders because of his speed and his ability to score off the dribble. One thing is certain about this 2012 PG, and that is that he puts up numbers and can hit big shots.
Earlier in 2011 he led the Walter Murray Marauders to a Championship at the MIT (Marauders Invitational Tournament), while averaging 19 points for his squad while putting on a great defensive show.
Just this past weekend, at the fifth annual Full Court Press, Northern Exposure Camp in Calgary, Alberta; Murdaugh further demonstrated in a variety of ways what he can provide to a team.
The best leaders are those who lead by example, and this is something that Murdaugh did on the defensive end, averaging a steal per game. There was a sense of frustration from most of the guards in the player showcase because of the lack of space that he gave them to execute offensively.
He differentiated himself from other PG’s by showing how efficient he can run an offense. Murdaugh is a player that makes the game easy for teammates because of his high knowledge of the game and his patience with possessions, which lead to him having minimal turnovers.
A feature of his game that stood out was his ability to create a shot for himself off the dribble. He did this by creating space using a speedy crossover and step-back.
This undersized guard plays big because he knows his capabilities and plays within them. He handles the ball very well and can escape traps and hit the open man. His crossovers and penetration moves are very smooth and difficult to follow as a defender.
If Murdaugh can add the element of explosiveness to his arsenal this will take his game to another level and go well with the skills he already has.
Entering his final year of high school at Dalmeny in Saskatchewan, he is sure to make a major impact on basketball in the province and you will be sure to hear more about him.
