Name: Erik Murphy
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-10
Position: Power Forward
School/Country: Florida
Latest Stats: 12.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4
Florida senior Erik Murphy is an intriguing prospect at the power forward position. At 6-foot-10, Murphy presents a big target inside, but it’s his overall ability to be rangy and stretch the floor that makes him all that more valuable. Murphy dealt with on-and-off injuries throughout his senior season, but he still averaged a career-high in points (12.2). Murphy’s best attribute however, is his outside shooting ability. Murphy can make it rain from the outside if he is left open and given his size, he’s tough to guard on the perimeter.
Murphy is not overly athletic, so he’s limited to terms of his mobility on the perimeter, but he is the ideal pick and pop guy. Murphy can cause a number of mismatches based simply off that aspect of his game. The 22 year old forward should hear his name called sometime in the mid-to-late portion of the second round.
Strengths: Murphy’s greatest strengths are his size and his shooting ability and the good news in that is that the two combine to work well with one other. Murphy can step outside and hit the three ball and he has the ideal skill set for pick and roll or pick and pop scenarios. Murphy shot 51.8% from the field this season and 45.3% from beyond the arc. Those numbers are great for a 6-foot-10 power forward.
Weaknesses: Murphy needs to expand his game more on the offensive end, despite his efficiency. It’d be great if he could consistently put the ball on the floor and attack the glass. Murphy needs to be more physical at the NBA level, especially in terms of rebounding the basketball. Murphy may struggle against larger, more physical players in the paint and his quickness and athleticism aren’t good enough for him to consistently play on the perimeter.
Draft Projection: Mid-to-Late Second Round
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