Murray’s Genes Read Basketball
8/6/2007 2:06:44 PM | Women's Basketball
For most people genes are merely associated with traits that we inherit from our biological parents like hair and eye color, but for some people these same genes can direct them towards to a lifestyle they never knew they would be passionate about. For Syracuse women’s basketball sophomore Vionca Murray, this was the case.
Murray, a transfer from Virginia Tech, was driven to basketball because of the physical build that she got from her genes.
“I started playing basketball when I was about nine years old,” said Murray. “Everybody always told me that I should play a sport because of my height.”
Being that Murray is now 6-foot-1 inch tall, it was pretty obvious that basketball ought to be one of the sports she should endeavor in because of her height and she did with much success. During her high school years at Francis Lewis H.S., Murray was a McDonald’s All-American nominee, a Street & Smith All American- Honorable mention, a New York Daily News and New York Times Herald Player of the Year and a Coaches Association All-State first team selection to name a few.
After graduating from her high school in Rosedale, N.Y., Murray joined Virginia Tech where she played for the Hokies during the 2006-07 season before transferring to Syracuse. Now a member of the Orange and back in her home state, Murray will play alongside teammates Tasha Harris, Nicole Michael and Erica Morrow who she played against in high school, something that has made her move to Syracuse a lot easier.
“I chose Syracuse because it’s close to home and I know a lot of people who go here because they are from the city,” said Murray. They (her teammates) are really nice and friendly. We get along really well.”
Like her new teammates, Murray comes to Syracuse excited to play under women’s basketball head coach Quentin Hillsman who she describes as an “awesome and really cool coach”. But she is not the only one who is happy that she is now a member of the Orange. Her genetic build did not go unnoticed by Hillsman who sees her physical build among other things as an asset to the team.
“She will make an immediate impact for us on both ends of the floor,” said Hillsman. “Just with the makeup of her game, her size and physicality, those are very attractive qualities that she will bring to the program.”
Murray has many goals that she hopes to accomplish in the future. Not only does she hope to pursue a future in basketball in the WNBA or overseas, she wants to be an entrepreneur and open up a sports recreation center. But for now the sophomore has her mind fixed on helping make Syracuse women’s basketball a powerhouse in the BIG EAST and winning a championship before she graduates.
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