Patrick Chalvire/Asst. Sports Director
He may not have gotten the call on draft day, but for one former standout on the men’s basketball team, the rejection from all 30 teams has made him work harder to reach his goal of playing in the NBA.
Instead of traveling the world, Tymell Murphy met his favorite basketball player and has been hitting the gym in hopes of making it to a place where only a handful of Panthers have made it before.
“It’s definitely not the end of Tymell Murphy playing basketball,” said Murphy. “I’m working out a lot of things, me and my agent [Talieb Wills], are just trying to find out a game plan and find out what’s the best decision, but I definitely will be playing basketball somewhere next season.”
Having his mother at his games wasn’t always a privilege for Murphy. During his senior season, she was only able to make it to one but now that he has been able to return home, Murphy has taken advantage of time lost.
“One thing that she told me that really made my day was that I already made it,” said Murphy. “I’m doing things that a lot of people in my neighborhood, a lot of people growing up where I grew up, probably didn’t have the chance to do. They probably got caught up in the streets or got caught up doing the wrong things or didn’t have it in them.”
To Murphy, basketball was never and will never be just a game. It’s a lifestyle; it’s a means to a better life and even more importantly, a way to take care of a family who sacrificed a lot during his younger years.
“Just to bring joy to my family and just to be able to be in a position where I can provide for them financially, it’s just one thing that I’m looking forward to,” said Murphy. “She makes me feel at ease.”
While in New York, Murphy also met one of his favorite basketball players; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.
““He told me I could play in this league and I can play in the NBA,” said Murphy of his one-on-one conversation with Anthony.”He gave me a lot of confidence and told me that I would be unstoppable if I got a couple additions to my game. He was playing with all the other guys and to take his time and talk to me, that was pretty special.”
Along with the hopes of playing for an NBA team, Murphy has also been given the possibility of playing for a national team. With a Panamanian father and help from former teammate Juan Ferrales, now playing at Barry University, Murphy will have the chance to play for the Panama Basketball National Team.
“I have family from Panama so that’ll be special to actually put on a jersey and represent the country,” said Murphy. “Just to have a fan base out there and just to enjoy the game and just enjoy the experience.”
Murphy previously played overseas during his senior year when the team took a 10-day, three-game tour of Spain to aid the team bond together and work on their game from an international setting. The trip was the first time any Panther team was sent overseas in the summer and the first for Murphy who previously had never left the country and only knew about Spain from watching highlights of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Murphy has already learned a few basic Spanish terms while living in Miami but hopes, if given the opportunity, he will continue to learn while in Panama.
It is unknown what exactly the future holds for Murphy, but no matter what, he said he will continue to be the man his mother raised, work hard and enjoy every minute he has.
“It’s a new process all over again and I’m just having fun with it. Its been pretty fun for me,” said Murphy.
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