DENTON, Texas — Every head coach has a personal connection to their players. It’s no different at the University of North Texas. There’s one player-coach relationship, however, that runs deeper than most. That’s because Mean Green guard JJ Murray and head coach Grant McCasland are cut from the same cloth when it comes to their basketball journeys.
If there’s anyone who knows how to climb the ladder of success in college hoops, it’s JJ Murray. His basketball career has taken him from a junior college All-American, a walk-on at UNT, to now a starter in the Mean Green’s rotation.
“It was evident in our practices that he was the best on ball defender on our team and it wasn’t even close,” said McCasland. “He guarded Ryan Woolridge for an entire year, who ended up playing for Gonzaga after he left [UNT] and now he’s playing professionally overseas. Then he guarded Javion Hamlet, who was player of the year. We knew if he could make those two guys look bad then he was actually pretty good.”
Good enough to earn a scholarship.
“It was definitely an emotional day,” said Murray when asked about the moment he got out on scholarship. “Not having to pay for school anymore is nice. It just goes back to the hardest part about being a walk-on, which is the uncertainty. At the end of the day, you’re just trying to help the team.”
The player-coach connection between these two is special because 25 years ago, Coach McCasland was a walk-on himself for the Baylor Bears.
“I mean JJ is a lot better than I was. Let’s be honest,” McCasland said with a smile. “He’s tough, he’s competitive and he can score the ball really well.”
But unlike coach McCasland, JJ’s future doesn’t include a basketball court.
“The most asked question is why don’t you want to play professional basketball? Every player we have wants to play in the NBA. But for JJ, this is it for him,” McCasland said.
“I love the game of basketball. It’s not that. I’ve put a lot into school too,” JJ said. “So I have to reap the benefits of my degree.”
JJ is studying to become a mechanical engineer. After this season, he’s hanging up the sneakers for good, which is why this last run is so important.
“Winning championships is my favorite part,” JJ said. “I love the process of getting better. But cutting down nets is something everyone should be able to experience.”
“That’s the part I love about him,” McCasland added. “He’s got the physical abilities. He does it on a daily basis. But it’s his belief in our program and this team that really separates him. He will do anything to win."