Luke Dunavant
Matthew Murrell is a guard on the Ole Miss Men’s Basketball team, but he is also the heart and soul of the team itself. The 6-foot-4-inch senior from Memphis is having his best year yet, averaging 17 points per game and shooting 48% from the field, leading the Rebels to their shiniest season in years — and generating NBA draft buzz, too.
He is the only starter on the team that has been with the Rebels for his entire collegiate career, and his dedication has paid dividends. He has not only grown as a player, but he has also stepped into a leadership role as the veteran of the team and program.
“Matt’s an effort guy. He plays hard, man. He makes mistakes like everybody, but his effort is always on point,” Head Coach Chris Beard said.
Murrell has continuously improved during his tenure with the team, and he was set for a breakout year with the Rebels, an expectation he fulfilled. Murrell is projected to be picked in the second round of the NBA Draft in most mock drafts.
His steady improvement and overall shooting ability have caught the attention of scouts.
“Murrell is one of the best (three-point) shooters you’ll see, with a quick trigger and deadly accuracy. He’ll get a lot of shots up for Ole Miss and should start getting more draft buzz soon,” one entry on NBA Draft Room said.
Murrell is a great guard, but perhaps what makes him stand out is his leadership and willingness to learn.
He leads by example and is never quiet; he will never go down without a fight. He could be without a single shot on the night — which has happened throughout his tenure in Oxford — and he will still be as vocal as ever, helping others and not even worrying about his own stats.
Put simply, Murrell is also a cold-blooded killer on the court. The moment is never too bright for him, and he will always rise up to the challenge. This was most recently shown in the team’s game against Missouri when he had 26 points and was one of the key reasons that the Rebels won.
He is the go-to guy for Beard in almost any situation, which is impressive considering the talent of the team’s roster from top to bottom.
The longtime Rebel is no doubt one of the best players to come out of Ole Miss Basketball, and he has the chance to change the narrative about the program in the big leagues. It is quite possible that he could be the best Ole Miss player to make the NBA, alongside Rebel legend Terence Davis.
If Murrell continues tearing up the SEC, it is possible that we will see another Rebel in the NBA for the first time in a long time.
