By Halle Parker

Special to The Farmville Herald

Eight years ago, Mike Murray was a high school freshman who dreamed alongside the rest of basketball players his age of playing for a Division I program.

Unlike the others, Murray could have easily committed down that path by accepting offers placed in front of him. A full ride from Big East member Xavier University was on the table early in his career, as well as spots with Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Throwing itself into the mix was Division III Hampden-Sydney College, looking to snag the young starting guard of a nationally-ranked Boo Williams Basketball AAU team of Norfolk, despite his initial rejection.

“We actually went to see him (Murray) a couple times and really encouraged him to come visit, and on our third or fourth trip, he said he’s not interested in Hampden-Sydney,” said Dee Vick, H-SC men’s basketball head coach. Even with this news, Vick and the recruiting staff continued to push for Murray through other means — his godparents.

Murray said, “I did not want to go here. It was all guys, it was in the middle of nowhere and I really didn’t want to come here and I tried just about everything possible to get my godfather to leave it alone, but he didn’t.”

His resistance caved his senior year when he finally visited campus at his godparents repeated request. Murray committed on the visit, after receiving a lot of advice prior to the visit and receiving Division I treatment at a Division III college.

Four years later, the graduating senior ended his final season on Feb. 26 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) postseason quarterfinals with a 90-67 loss against the eventual 2016 champions, Lynchburg College, adding his last 11 points and five assists.

Although Murray’s name will be absent from next year’s roster, the three-year starter and  captain’s legacy will live on as his name joins the 1,000 career points club (1,178) and holds the record for career assists (433). He totaled 23 career assists over the previous record set 14 years ago by a former H-SC teammate of Vick, Bat Barber.

Vick complimented Murray’s ball handling abilities, speed and competitive leadership on the court. “When the games get tougher and it gets harder he really rises to the occasion and we really love to have that in a point guard, in a captain. That’s just the type of kid he is,” said the eight-year head coach.

Outside of his record and awards, Vick believed Murray’s smaller size and tough background were the two factors that truly set him apart at Hampden-Sydney.

“He might be small in height but he doesn’t play small,” said Vick of the 5-foot-9, 155-pound point guard. Vick noted teams who recruited Murray early in his high school career, who stood at the same height his freshman year, “shied away” because “he was too small and didn’t grow;” but his shorter stature never held him back as a Tiger.

“We always tease him that small hinges move big doors because he’s small, but he overcomes that with his intensity and his effort on the court.”

At his homes in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Murray worried less about his size holding him back versus his situation. Growing up, he experienced life in the inner city while living with his single mother, Teresa Chatmon, in a rough neighborhood with the lingering threat of falling in with the wrong crowd, described Murray frankly.

“My mom sacrificed a whole lot. My mom saw something in me as a kid and kept me from the streets, kept me from getting in trouble, kept me in sports, disciplined me when it was right and didn’t let me become a part of the system,” said Murray. After meeting his future godparents in Tim and Denise Dafron, he attended Norfolk Christian Academy and lived in the area five out of seven days of the week versus with his mother in Portsmith due to the traveling.

“To be here is a testimony. Growing up I didn’t want be a statistic,” he said.

“I keeping saying it, but I’m really blessed to be alive, to be here, to score 1,000, to break records, to be apart of Hampden-Sydney history, just everything. I’m just appreciative to be honest with you.”

In his time at Hampden-Sydney, Murray took several off-court positions, including work in the security and alumni offices, as a head resident assistant, the Big Sibling program, Chi Phi social brother, student body president executive board and as one of the President’s men.

“As good as Hampden-Sydney’s been for him, he’s been great for Hampden-Sydney,” said Vick.

Murray’s off-court involvements were a large part of his late decision to commit to Hampden-Sydney.

“I knew that basketball was going to come to an end. I like to say that the ball is going to go flat sooner or later. You know, what’s after that is what’s important,” said Murray.

“We’re developing men here. It’s not something you say, you come here as a boy and you leave as a man. I feel like that’s what this school has done for me, and, four years later, I don’t regret it at all.”