Meet the Newbies: Lamond Murray Jr.

Jan 21, 2012, Malibu, CA, USA; Pepperdine Waves coach Marty Wilson reacts during the game against the BYU Cougars at Firestone Fieldhouse. BYU defeated Pepperdine 77-64. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Pepperdine freshman small forward Lamond Murray Jr. is not only a good player, but has solid basketball in his genes. His father, Lamond Murray, played 12 years in the NBA and was a standout at Cal. On top of those lofty expectations, Murray Jr. will need to help this Pepperdine squad replace the perimeter scoring of Jordan Baker, who transferred to San Jose State this past summer. So, without further ado, here is a closer look at Lamond Murray Jr., forward on the Pepperdine men’s basketball program.

At Bishop Montgomery

Murray Jr. was a four year varsity player at Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, Calif. and was one of the best players in the Los Angeles area. As a senior, Murray Jr. racked up huge numbers on the stat-sheet, and picked up a great deal of accolades as a result. His 22.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game earned him  the Daily Breeze Area Player of the Year, the Del Rey League MVP, a place on the All-CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA first team, and a spot on the Max Preps all-state team. Murray Jr. accumulated some nice awards his junior and sophomore seasons as well, but nothing compares to his illustrious senior season.

Impact at Pepperdine

As alluded to before, Baker’s production in the Waves backcourt will be sorely missed. Murray Jr., who is a versatile wing that has a knack for putting the ball in the basket, will be a great candidate to fill this role next season. Although many expect the Waves to struggle next season, considering they are so young, a lot of people also expect Murray Jr. to be a huge contributor as well. One could argue that the Waves will only go as far as their freshman take them, and Murray Jr. has the potential and skill to take this team to new heights.