Erik Murphy Madness

With a tip o'the cap to the commenter below, check out this article from today's Boston Globe about stud 2009 prospect Erik Murphy and his teammate, Nate Lubick. The buzz on Murphy is deafening in New England (heck, he's profiled in the Globe on the morning the Red Sox open the 2007 ALDS), and TC seems blown away:

Rarely have so many coaching greats flocked to a New England high school gym for such a small private showcase.

"I've never been at anything like this," said Crean, one of eight coaches who already have offered scholarships to Murphy, a 6-foot-9-inch, 220-pound junior.

How good can Murphy be?

"In my view, Patrick Ewing is the most accomplished player ever to come out of New England, but at the end of the day, Erik Murphy will be in the top five," said T.J. Gassnola, who operates the New England Playaz.

Murphy is an interesting target for MU in the class of 2009. MU clearly needs a talent upgrade on the front line, and TC is aiming high with this kid -- considering UF, UNC and most college basketball royalty are after him.

Can MU hang with this competition? I'd like to think, 'yes'. However, perhaps Murphy is the kind of kid more likely to consider MU seriously if Crean can deliver a breakthrough 2008 class.

Know what? It could happen. For the first time in several recruiting cycles, MU could be on the verge of a major breakthrough nationally, ratcheting the program up a notch in the eyes of high school coaches and emerging talent all around the country. A 2008 freshman class that includes Shumpert, Ben-Eze and Williams (or similarly rated talent) would make MU a much more viable option for more of the nation's elite down the line-- kids like Murphy.

All the more reason why the next 45 days of the off-season will be among the most interesting and significant in recent memory.