Murray’s Brother Is a Keeper at Glendora : High schools: Cameron is a precocious freshman, and the recruiters are back.

When Bob and Candy Murray’s son Tracy signed a UCLA basketball scholarship in 1989, they thought their roller-coaster ride of several years was coming to an end.

Turns out it had barely begun.

Even the attention Tracy Murray got as one of the most publicized high school basketball players in Southern California history was not enough to prepare the Murray family for the re-run. The hoopla this time is about younger son Cameron, who started his prep basketball career at Glendora High three months ago.

A freshman, Cameron has been bombarded with media coverage and hundreds of telephone calls and letters from college recruiters. That he is the younger brother of a blossoming college player has not hurt Cameron’s reputation, but he is quickly establishing his own identity on the court.

Heading into the final weeks of Baseline League play, Cameron, a 5-foot-11 point guard, is leading the team in scoring with a 24-point average. He has started every game.

“All of this attention is more hectic than I ever thought it could be,” Candy Murray said. “We went through a lot of this with Tracy, but nothing like this. As a family, we literally don’t have any time together anymore. The four of us rarely have a moment alone.”

The Glendora gymnasium has been sold out for most home games, and the buzz around town is that Cameron might be even better than Tracy.

“I have been very careful not to make comparisons,” said Mike LeDuc, Glendora’s basketball coach the past five years. “Tracy was an incredible player who did everything and more than anyone expected. Cameron is off to a great start here, but he is a different player than Tracy. It wouldn’t be fair to either to . . . compare them.”

It is difficult not to make comparisons, however, because Cameron and Tracy are alike in many ways. Although Tracy is 6-8 and plays forward, the two have a similar style on the court. They shoot well from long and short range, are strong rebounders and play aggressive defense. They are players coaches go to at crunch time.

Tracy and Cameron also are knowledgeable about the game, mainly because they have been playing since they were old enough to hold a basketball. Bob and Candy Murray made sure their sons were signed up for the best recreational leagues and summer camps. If there was an important game across the country, money was never a problem.

There is a family member at all of Tracy and Cameron’s games, and it is not uncommon to see Bob or Candy at practice. Bob Murray is vocal and not afraid to express his opinion about an official’s call. Candy is quieter but can usually be found at her husband’s side.

Bob and Candy say they are their sons’ biggest fans but also their strongest critics. If Tracy or Cameron steps out of line or lets basketball become more important than academics, the parents claim they are the first to correct the problem.

“We want the best for our kids,” said Bob, who played basketball at Pasadena Blair and Cal Lutheran and had a tryout with the Detroit Pistons in the early 1970s. “But we also have to try and help them keep perspective on what’s happening in their lives. It would be very easy for one of them to lose their sense of priority.”

Although Bob and Candy Murray won’t say that they have higher expectations for Cameron’s prep basketball career than they did for Tracy’s, Cameron has told many of his close friends--including Tracy--that he feels pressured.

Tracy Murray graduated from Glendora in 1989 after setting the state scoring record with 3,053 points. He routinely scored 50 or more a game his senior season. He led Glendora to the state Division II final that year, scoring 64 points in an 89-83 loss to Menlo Atherton at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

Although Cameron says the scoring record seems beyond reach now, he does not rule out the possibility. Tracy set the record in three seasons, because he did not play on the varsity his freshman year. Cameron is not only starting as a freshman but is the heart of the team.

In a game against Ontario Chaffey two weeks ago, Murray sank a jump shot at the buzzer in double overtime, giving Glendora a 50-48 victory. He scored eight of the Tartans’ 11 points in overtime, finishing with a game-high 26.

Some, though, have questioned whether too much is expected of him. Glendora is a large school and a well established basketball power, having won four consecutive league championships.

“Whatever pressure Cameron is feeling right now I know he is very capable of handling,” LeDuc said. “I’ve known about Cameron since he was in the fifth grade. I knew then that he was going to be a good one. Believe me, he’s very well prepared for the role he’s been put in. He’s a tremendous talent who is even exceeding my expectations.”

Other coaches are equally impressed. Said La Verne Damien’s Rick Winter: “I’m definitely not looking forward to guarding him for the next four years. When I took this job four years ago, people were already mentioning his name. That should tell you something about what people think about him.”

Alta Loma Coach Jeff McCall said Cameron displays skills comparable to a junior’s.

Teammates say Cameron has not let the attention or success go to his head. Jay Zuhlke, Glendora’s captain, said he does not look at Cameron as a freshman. He said he considers Murray a leader on the court and is glad he is out there.

Although he has said there is pressure, Murray also has said he would not change a thing.

“Everything has happened so quickly that I really haven’t had a lot of time to analyze everything that has gone on,” he said. “Right now, I’m not thinking about records or points or any of that. I just want to try to help my team win, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do that.

“This is something I’ve wanted for a long time, and I just want to work hard to make sure it lasts.”

USC Coach George Raveling admits it is rare for a freshman to earn a starting position at a large high school.

Raveling also said, however, that he is familiar with Cameron Murray and his abilities and is not surprised by his early success.

Local basketball promoter Sonny Vaccaro said he worries whether too much is being expected of Cameron.

“I saw him play over the summer and I sensed he felt a lot of responsibility,” Vaccaro said. “I think the pressure is inbred and hard to live up to. I know the parents won’t admit they have high expectations of Cameron, but I think if he doesn’t achieve his brother’s marks he may be considered a disappointment.

“Tracy has already accomplished his high school marks, so does Cameron have to do better than that to be regarded in the same light? I think it’s unfair if people try to make those comparisons.”

The Murray family maintains there are no unfair expectations of Cameron. Bob and Candy say they give their sons full support in anything they want to do. Tracy, who regards Cameron as his best friend, said he is there for his brother whenever there is a need.

Cameron attends most UCLA games, home or away. Tracy attends many Glendora games and talks to Cameron every day. When Tracy is on the road during the week, he will call Cameron to give him advice before a game.

The Glendora-Chaffey game two weeks ago was on the night UCLA played host to Stanford. Although the Bruins were upset, Tracy’s first order of business after the game was to call Glendora to see who won.

“Cameron has been playing basketball for a long time, and he’s always played against tougher and older competition,” said Tracy, who is averaging 20 points as a starting forward at UCLA. “He was put in pressure situations, so he could handle what is happening to him now. I don’t think too much is being expected of him. He’s only doing what he wants to do.

“Cameron is way ahead of where I was at his age. He’s a very complete player. I’ve tried to help him as much as I can over the years and prepare him for what’s happening to him now. He’s been well schooled in what he’s experiencing.”

Cameron keeps a low profile around school and downplays the attention generated by basketball. His quiet manner changes on the court, however, where he is not reluctant to raise his voice or shout out instructions.

Although LeDuc is a respected coach and a proven winner, Cameron looks to Tracy for guidance. Cameron says Tracy is his role model and idol.

“I try to play my game exactly like Tracy does,” Cameron said. “Tracy taught me everything I know about this game. He’s always been my toughest competition.

“Being the younger brother of Tracy Murray is normal to me because I’ve never known anything else. I think we have a lot of similarities, but I don’t like to compare us because Tracy is a great player, and I don’t want to take anything away from his accomplishments.

“Right now, I just want to concentrate on a good high school career so I can pick the college of my choice.”