| Glasgow Rocks | 86 |
| Guildford Heat | 75 |
“We are very pleased to have retained Gareth Murray. I truly feel he is the most talented player we had on last year’s team. He can play multiple positions and is as athletic as anyone in the League. We are looking for big things from him this season and I look forward to playing along side him.”
Murray averaged 6 points and 3 rebounds over 18 minutes per game last season in helping the Rocks to reach the championship game of the BBL Playoffs.
“I’m excited about signing for another year with the Rocks. I’ve really enjoyed my first two seasons and it’s been great to be a part of this organisation and everything the Rocks are striving for – both on and off the court. We’ve come close to winning some silverware the last couple of years and I’m looking forward to getting another shot again this season. Hopefully we can bring it home.”
Murray, the top Scot in the British Basketball League, first joined the Rocks after making an unannounced appearance at the Rocks open tryout before the 2005/06 season. He will return to that event on Thursday to help Rocks player/coach Sterling Davis assess the local talent.
Open Tryouts: Thursday 30th August – Cleveden Secondary School – 7:30pm
Each year, the Rocks hold an open tryout session in hopes of finding a “diamond in the rough” (i.e., Murray) or even a few role players who can help the squad. The session is open to any serious basketball players over the age of 18 who are willing and able to commit to practice and compete with the Rocks on a regular basis.
Players interested in tryouts should contact the Rocks office on 0141 886 2383 to confirm their participation. Fans should note that due to limited space in the school, this event must be restricted to the participants.
While the session lasts two hours, it may be significantly shorter for some. The session starts with a crowded court, but eventually works its way down to the top 10 or 15 as the dream of professional basketball ends for some quite quickly.
Murray survived the cuts two years ago and has quickly developed into a formidable and sometimes feared player in the BBL. After spending most of his first season on the bench, coach Thorsten Leibenath asked Gareth to step up and take a more significant role. Murray responded well and showed he has the talent and potential to be a real star in this League.
New coach Davis intends to keep Murray on a steep progression curve and has high expectations for the Scot.
“Gareth will see a lot of court time this year and I’m counting on him to step up to the challenge of an increased role as a major player in this League.”
Posted on 29 August, 2007
