Canadian point guard Jamal Murray is planning several college visits in the coming weeks but still has no timeframe on a decision about reclassifying to 2015 from 2016, his father told SNY.tv by phone on Monday.
As has been the case throughout this recruitment, Roger Murray is keeping information very close to the vest and won’t reveal when or where his son, a 6-foot-5 point guard out of Orangeville Prep (Ontario), will take visits.
Kentucky and Oregon are among the schools working hard to land Murray, with UConn the latest school to offer.
“We’re taking a couple visits, I’m not sure the date yet or exactly how we’re going to do it but we’ll be taking some visits for sure,” Roger said.
Asked which schools would get visits, he added, “No, I’m not going to say for now. We try and stay away from the whole hoopla of it. We could be taking a visit and don’t really put it out [in the media], just try to continue what we’re doing.”
It sounds like the visits could begin later in May or in early June.
“A couple weeks or three weeks,” Roger said.
Jamal Murray could have visited Kentucky two weeks ago during the Nike EYBL stop in Lexington, but ended up not making the trip with CIA Bounce. Roger also said his son doesn’t plan on playing with CIA Bounce this summer and will train instead.
Kentucky coach John Calipari then met with Murray in Ontario, with Roger telling SNY.tv the Wildcats were ready to take him “anytime,” — 2015 or 2016.
Kentucky already has two point guards next season in rising sophomore Tyler Ulis along with incoming McDonald’s All-American Isaiah Briscoe of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic.
“You want to play and to get better with other players and obviously get time to play,” Roger said. “That’s why there’s not a rush because you gotta really look at everything.”
Meantime, Oregon is heavily involved for Murray, but the Ducks are also one of three finalists for transferring Villanova point guard Dylan Ennis, a fellow Canadian who is also considering Baylor and Illinois.
“We’re still involved with Oregon,” Roger said. “I’m looking at the all the offers and who’s interested relationship-wise. We still talk to Oregon.”
UConn has Jalen Adams, the Co-MVP of the Jordan Regional Game, coming in to play the point but reached out to extend an offer to Murray.
“UConn did, yeah,” he said.
Numerous other schools remain in contact.
“There’s always schools,” Roger said. “The top schools just sometimes inquire. There’s always schools i’m talking to.”
Roger also said it’s “not necessarily” the case that the schools recruiting Jamal the hardest will automatically get visits.
“Not necessarily, not necessarily,” he said. “He wants to win. It’s a balance, either you can go and try to be the man or be a part of a group that’s going to have a goal in mind.”
He’s done a lot of winning recently.
Murray drew increased interest from Kentucky and Duke after he scored 30 points to lead the World Team to the Nike Hoop Summit title over the U.S. last month and then dropped 29 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds in a loss in the BioSteel All-Canadian All-Star Game in Toronto on April 14.
Meantime, it remains unclear whether Murray will reclass to 2015 or remain in 2016. He is currently projected as the No. 21 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com, meaning he could either go pro after one year in college or go straight out of Orangeville Prep in 2016.
“It’s a process, man,” Roger said. “We’re not leaving any stones unturned, just going through it till the end.”
