Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Florida Gators are losing a couple of players during the offseason and one of those players is Erik Murphy. Murphy will likely get drafted in the 2013 NBA Draft, but let’s look as his skill set as a pro.
Murphy ended up scoring 12.2 points per game and grabbing 5.5 rebounds per game on the season.
What makes Murphy so special in this draft is his 6’10” stature. Sure, he can post up opposing defenders–although he will have to add some strength in the NBA–but Murphy can also drain threes. He made 72 three-pointers on the year, but it is his 45.3 percent mark that looks so good on paper from behind the arc.
Murphy was one of the hardest players to guard this season in the SEC because if someone his height was put on him, that player would not be able to handle Murphy from the outside and if a shorter more athletic defender was put on him, Murphy would pretty much walk his way to the basket.
Murphy could have scored a lot more points this season, but the Gators were a very well-rounded team on offense and the ball was distributed among many players. His shot will only get better at the next level, which will make him a nightmare to guard. It also helps that he is athletic and can play some very good defense.
He is definitely not the best player in the draft, but Murphy can ball and he has the skill set to be successful at the next level.
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