UK commitment already paying huge dividends for Jamal Murray

[Cat Ballou]

Does anyone think for a minute there would be the immense hype around Murray there currently is if he had committed to Oregon, or decided to finish out his career in Canada?

Just another great illustration why big-time recruits are foolish to go anywhere other than UK or 2-3 other mega high profile basketball schools.

Even Isaac Humphries was was trending on Twitter last week after rumors he was UK-bound. Do you think that would have happened if he'd picked Wichita State or Indiana?

 

[HoosierfanJM]

Even Issac Humphries was was trending on Twitter last week after rumors he was UK-bound. Do you think that would have happened if he'd picked Wichita State or Indiana?

I'm pretty certain no one outside of diehard college basketball junkies would have given a flying fig about Isaac Humphries if he'd picked IU ...wait a second.

 

[Mike-D]

I'm pretty certain no one outside of diehard college basketball junkies would have given a flying fig about Isaac Humphries if he'd picked IU ...wait a second.

 

[dckala2]

Agree completely. No other fanbase would've blown up the pan-am games like bbn.

Let alone have a fan (billionth) spend his own time to make highlight reels for each game. That then subsequently get picked up by major sites.

 

[Cat Ballou]

Isaac Humphries was among the top search topics on Twitter last week, Loosierfan. That's what happens when you commit to a school with a huge national, and even a burgeoning international fanbase . If he'd committed to your candy pants school, no one would have given a rat's sass.

 

[Cat Ballou]

Yep - Wichita State is definitely the better mid- major - and their coach is incrementally less creepy.

 

[Federal Cat]

Agree completely. No other fanbase would've blown up the pan-am games like bbn.

Let alone have a fan (billionth) spend his own time to make highlight reels for each game. That then subsequently get picked up by major sites.

And thanks again Billionth

 

[BBUK]

And thanks again Billionth

They call him Bill....

 

[mj2k10]

When an 18 year old puts up 22 points in about 15 minutes, leading his team to a win against an adult US team in international competition, he's going to get a lot of attention.

That would be the main cause of the immense hype. But yes, Murray being a UK player amplifies it.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

After his performance at the Pan-Am games, Murray would still be getting a lot of media attention. Once the season starts though, he would be on the left coast and not on TV as much.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Branding is important. One could make a decent argument that John Wall wouldn't have had the hype coming into college or out of college had he picked Baylor.

Hype helps sell a personal brand. It would be a remarkable research study.