New Orleans rookie forward Trey Murphy III was a late bloomer hoops-wise in a variety of ways, including a growth spurt that saw him transition from a guard to a 6-foot-9 forward, while also helping move him up a few notches in the eyes of college basketball program recruiters. As the 2021 NBA Draft approached, Murphy also was a late riser, going from a possible late-first rounder to being selected No. 17 overall (officially by Memphis, but traded to New Orleans).
The University of Virginia and Rice University product is this week’s subject in the latest edition of Pelicans.