A player who showed some potential on the Prep Hoops Circuit with Hopson Elite , the jump Murphy made from the summer to the winter was one of the bigger ones in the senior class. Playing with much more confidence as a shooter, Murphy was putting up big time numbers against top competition in the Toledo and Detroit area. Always been an impactful defender, the length and anticipation of Murphy allows him to jump passing lanes and force turnovers. Based on what I saw his senior season, I think Murphy should be a priority for small colleges around NW Ohio, he could force his way on the floor early with his shooting and defensive abilities.

Murphy is having a breakout senior season and putting up over 20 points in most games. He did not do this on Friday but you can see why this senior is having a breakout year. He is super confident and you can tell he has the green light. His shot is coming off the hand quickly and at a high point. It’s a high-arching shot. He needs little to get his shot up. Murphy also has a next-level range. He is making plays for others. He is a very long guard and this really helps him on defense. He got a lot of poke outs. This caused turnovers and easy points for his teammates in transition.

Toledo St John’s once again has an experienced team and Murphy is set to be a breakout star as a senior after being a valuable complimentary piece as a Junior on a state final four squad. Scoring a team high 27 points knocking down a handful of 3-pointers, the senior wing guard was getting busy offensively. Where Murphy maybe shines the most is on the defensive end with his length and activity jumping passing lanes. Small college programs have been actively recruiting Murphy and he continues to show why he’s coveted by a handful of programs.

Murphy is one of few players coming back for St. John’s this year who played a role in getting them to the final four last year. He played a big role in his shooting ability. He had extreme confidence in his shooting ability and was shooting the ball from five feet beyond the arc sometimes. He will need to do this again this year for the Titans. He can stretch the floor and is one of the best shooters in the area. He is a sneaky good defender because of his length.

The surprise run of the OHSAA playoffs last year was Toledo St John’s winning their region and making a trip to Dayton for the state final four. They graduated some key pieces from that team but still have a lot of talent on their roster with guys like Jalen Murphy set to breakout this year. A long and versatile defender, Murphy will likely draw the opposing teams best guard scorer next season. With his shot making ability you could also see his scoring numbers improve as a senior as well.

Murphy is a taller and very lengthy guard who can shoot the lights out. He showed that again on Sunday. He needed little to no space to knock down the three-ball. Even though he needs little to no space to shoot the ball he never forced it. He was good off the dribble and catch-n-shoot. Something that impressed me was his defensive presence. He seems to be getting quicker and better footwork defensively. He was guarding the ball very well and applied felt pressure. His length allows him to take more chances than most and the ability to recover. He has some impressive blocks. He is getting more athletic and will be the senior leader for St. John’s this year.

Murphy played a crucial role in the St. John’s Titans making it down to Dayton last year. During the postseason run, he showed great confidence from beyond the arc, and I believe he will continue that into this year. He had a super quick and high release on his shot. When he is feeling it he will shoot it with little to no space at all and it will go in. It is usually all net because of his high-arching shot. He is a sneaky good defender who uses his length well at poking the ball out.

Murphy was a game-changer for Hopson Elite in the game I watched on Sunday. The team he was going against decided to open up the game in a 2-3 zone, once Murphy checked into the game they didn’t stay in it long. He was knocking down shots from all over the court. He’s got unlimited range and when he is in rhythm, his is automatic. Super long player so it makes his shot almost unblockable and tough to contest. It’s especially tough to contest when he is shooting it from the volleyball line. He was crucial for the spacing for Hopson Elite for other guards on his team that attacked the basket more than him. He was a sniper for Hopson elite and it lead to their dominant win.

A 3-point sniper, Murphy came off the bench and made it rain for Hopson Elite as they built a 20+ point lead in the first half off the hot shooting from Murphy. A prototypical 3-and-D prospect, Murphy can knock down shots off the catch and has the length and quickness to be an impact defender on the wing as well. After a surprise run to the final four last season, Murphy will look to play a bigger role for the Titans as a senior and his experience playing on the Prep Hoops Circuit will help with that change.