Davon Reed and Kamari Murphy Leave Miami Setting a Standard
Miami Hurricanes Seniors Davon Reed and Kamari Murphy careers ended in a tough loss to Michigan State. As Senior leaders this season, they set a standard that should last for the next few years.
Reed and Murphy were a key part of a Miami team that advanced to the Sweet 16 last season as a three seed. The 2016 season ended in a similar fashion in a blowout loss.
The 2016 season ended with a 93-69 loss to eventual National Champion Villanova in the Sweet 16. Reed and Murphy’s roles increased this season as Miami lost Seniors Angel Rodriguez, Sheldon McClellan and Tony Jekiri from last season’s team.
More important than their roles increasing on the floor in terms of production was their roles as tri-captains with Junior point guard Ja’Quan Newton. Those three led a young team to the NCAA Tournament in what many had considered a rebuilding year in Coral Gables.
Jim Larranaga told the Miami Herald after the loss to Michigan State:
"“I also told them we’re going to really miss Davon [Reed] and [Kamari Murphy] and the great leadership they provided and that the young guys have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to get us back in the Big Dance next year."
Reed leaves Miami as one of the most accomplished players in school history. The Hurricanes went to back to back NCAA Tournaments for the first time since they went to three in row from 1998-2000. That group was the first time the Hurricanes made back to back NCAA Tournaments in school history.
Reed spoke about his career and the future of the program to the Herald after the game:
"“I hate for us to go out this way, but my goal was to get back to the NCAA Tournament and then see where we can do once we got here; so, the fact we got here, I’m extremely proud of these young guys,” Reed said.“I’m very, very happy to be part of this program. Sad to be moving on, but there’s nothing but success to come for this program. Coach L is the greatest coach I’ve ever had, his wealth of knowledge of the game. And I’m more than certain that he’ll take this program to even bigger heights, which he’s been doing since he got here.”"
Miami brings in the best recruiting class in school history on the heels on what was previously considered to be the best class in school history. Bruce Brown just had one of the best freshman seasons in school history.
Incoming freshman Lonnie Walker is the nation’s 19th ranked recruit and fifth McDonald’s All-American in Miami history. Five-foot-six recruit Chris Lykes should give the Hurricanes steadiness at the point guard position that they did not have this year.
Reed ends his career with 90 wins in a Miami uniform. Murphy had 48 in his two years with the Hurricanes. Only last year’s class with 95 wins in four years had more than the class of 2017.
The return of Brown and Newton, the returns of Dewan Huell, Anthony Lawrence, DJ Vasiljevic and Ebuka Izundu with the addition of the recruiting class gives Miami a bright future. The captains next season should be Brown, Newton and Lawrence.
Miami will have more talent next season, but will be even younger than they were this year. This year’s team had two seniors (Reed and Murphy) and a Junior (Newton) in the rotation with the rest of the team sophomores and freshman.
The 2017-18 Hurricanes will likely have one Senior, two Juniors (Lawrence and Izundu) and the rest sophomores and freshmen in the rotation. Jim Larranga is building a program, not just a team that makes an NCAA Tournament run every few years.
Next: After Great Start, Miami Collapses Against Michigan State
The Hurricanes should have the talent to get to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season for the second time in program history. Depending on the attrition that occurs from the other ACC schools and the Hurricanes might have a chance to finish in the upper echelon of the ACC.