SDSU’s Murray Pools His Talents on the Court

From the pools of Detroit to the playgrounds of San Diego, you won’t find many athletes selected All-State in swimming and basketball. Gerald Murray is an exception.

Four years ago at Detroit Southeastern High School, Murray was a 6-foot 6-inch freestyler. Now the San Diego State backup center is a 6-8 enforcer.

“A lot of guys play both football and basketball or baseball and basketball,” the 20-year-old Murray said, “but I loved to swim since I started going with my brother and sister to the YMCA when I was 12.”

It wasn’t until he switched from Detroit Southeastern to basketball-crazy Kettering High his junior year that Murray started shooting hook shots instead of swimming the 100- and 500-yard freestyle.

Murray averaged six points and six rebounds a game his junior season. After concentrating on the game during the summer, Murray averaged 15 points and 13 rebounds and was named to the All-City first team and All-State second team his senior year.

At SDSU, Murray spent most of his freshman year exchanging elbows with Michael Cage in practice. Players in the Western Athletic Conference didn’t know a lot about Murray, but his teammates knew he was probably the most physical player on the team.

This season, Murray has made the most of his opportunities to play.

Against a physical Texas team, Murray came off the bench to score 11 points and get 5 rebounds in the Aztecs’ 71-65 win.

Murray started the two games of the Cabrillo Classic at forward in place of John Martens, who was out with a knee injury. He had six points and six rebounds against TCU and seven points and three rebounds against Michigan State. Aztec Coach Smokey Gaines said Murray may start against Wyoming tonight at 7:35 in the San Diego Sports Arena.

Once the WAC season started, the minutes Murray played were dependent on Gaines’ methods of substitution.

After not playing against Utah last Saturday night, Murray was a deciding factor in Thursday night’s 75-72 come-from-behind victory over Colorado State.

At forward, Murray scored six points, had six rebounds and played aggressive, man-to-man defense against the Rams’ leading scorer, Rich Strong.

“It was probably the best game I’ve played,” Murray said. “I tried to take him (Strong) out of his game, and was proud of the way I could stop such a great player.”

Gaines said Murray was what the Aztecs needed to counter the Rams’ board strength.

“Gerald played very physical,” Gaines said, “and he helped Leonard (Allen) by being another enforcer.

“We need more rebuilding strength, and Gerald does that a little better than Andre (Ross). I don’t know who will start. I don’t want to kill Andre’s spirit.”

If he does start tonight, Murray said he’ll be a little more nervous than usual. However, looking back at his swimming days, Murray said he used to get real nervous before a meet.

“I’d get the butterflies before doing the butterfly,” he said with a laugh.

Aztec Notes

The Aztecs came from behind to defeat Wyoming, 60-57, in the WAC opener for both Jan. 3 at Laramie. Wyoming (6-5, 13-9) is coming off a 68-50 loss at Hawaii Thursday night and a long flight from Honolulu to San Diego. . . . Wyoming starting guard Les Bolden is back in the lineup after missing 12 games with a stress fracture in his lower back. Bolden did not play against SDSU the first time. At 6-6, Wyoming forward Jamal Hosey leads the WAC in rebounding with an 8.3 per game average. Tonight’s game will be broadcast live by KSDO (1130).