Willie Murrell
Willie Vernon Murrell (September 13, 1941 – December 6, 2018) was an American professional basketball player.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 13, 1941 Taft, Oklahoma |
| Died | December 6, 2018 (aged 77) Denver, Colorado |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Moton (Taft, Oklahoma) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1964 / Round: 4 / Pick: 31st overall |
| Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | |
| Playing career | 1964–1970 |
| Position | Small forward |
| Number | 44 |
| Career history | |
| 1965–1967 | Scranton Miners |
| 1967–1968 | Denver Rockets |
| 1968–1970 | Miami Floridians |
| 1970 | Kentucky Colonels |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career ABA statistics | |
| Points | 2,988 (13.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,655 (7.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 233 (1.0 apg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Murrell was born in Taft, Oklahoma.[1] A 6'6" forward, he played at Kansas State University from 1962 to 1964. He averaged 20.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game during his time at Kansas State and was a 1964 first-team All-American. In 1964, he led Kansas State to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. The team was eliminated by UCLA, despite a 29-point, 13-rebound effort from Murrell.[2] In 2009, Murrell's No. 44 jersey was retired by Kansas State.[2]
After college, Murrell played three seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Denver Rockets, Miami Floridians, and Kentucky Colonels. He averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 228 ABA games.[3]
Murrell died on December 6, 2018, at age 77 in Denver, Colorado.[4][5]
References
- "Murrell, Willie". Kansas Sports Hall of Fane. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- "Murrell, Richmond to have Jerseys Retired". K-State Athletics. January 20, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- Willie Murrell statistics. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on September 20, 2009.
- "Willie Murrell, former K-State basketball star, dead at 77". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
- Black, Ryan (December 21, 2018). "K-State basketball legend Willie Murrell dies at 78". Manhattan Mercury. Retrieved December 22, 2018.