The Iowa basketball team kicks off their much anticipated season this Wednesday versus North Carolina Central. Here’s three freshmen that can contribute to this year’s team.
Hawkeye basketball fans have been looking forward to this season since last season was shut down back in March. Iowa hasn’t had this high of expectations since Lute Olson took the team to the Final Four. Iowa returns all five starters from last year’s team, with a couple of key players coming off the bench.
To complement the outstanding veterans on the team, Iowa’s freshman class has some players that could play pivotal roles as soon as this season.
Three freshmen that stand out to me are forwards Keegan and Kris Murray and guard Tony Perkins. Yes, you read that right; the same last name for two players. Keegan and Kris are twins and they look exactly the same. The only way to tell the difference between the two is the fact that Keegan wears No. 15 and Kris wears No. 20.
Let’s start with Perkins, who comes from Indiana and stands at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds – pretty good size for a guard coming into college.
I could see Perkins backing up Joe Wieskamp. I see him more as a guard, but can definitely see him playing the ‘3’. Perkins was one of 13 seniors in the state of Indiana to be named to the All-Star team last year. According to some of Tony’s teammates, they think he is the best athlete on the team. Perkins has a 38-inch vertical. Look for him to expand his game by shooting the three and attacking off the dribble.
Meanwhile, the Murray twins are from Cedar Rapids, IA, right down the road from Iowa City. They are the sons of former Hawkeye great, Kenyon Murray. After the Murray’s graduated from Prairie High School in 2019, they moved to Florida and went to prep school to play ball. Keegan was named national prep school invitational most outstanding player.
The Murray twins are both 6-foot-8 and weigh 215 pounds. Like I said, the only difference is the jersey number. From a playing standpoint, Kris shoots left-handed, while Keegan is a righty. Keegan will play the ‘4’ or ‘5’. I see Kris playing more on the wing with the ability to shoot the three.
When speaking to reporters on Monday Iowa coach Fran McCaffery had high praise for Keegan, saying, “He’s been a great rebounder in practice and can shoot the basketball.”
“I’m definitely excited to see what he can do for us coming this Wednesday in the season-opener and forward,” added teammate Luka Garza.
McCaffery and his team should like what they have from this freshman class, which welcomes five new guys. These three players will make an impact for Iowa basketball and help them reach new levels in 2020-21.