CBS Sports unveiled their annual Top 100 NBA Players for the upcoming 2024-2025 season, featuring former Virginia basketball standout Trey Murphy III at No. 72. Murphy was one of six players from the New Orleans Pelicans included in the rankings, moving up nine spots from last year’s position of No. 81.
James Herbert, a CBS Sports writer, highlighted Murphy’s achievements in the Top 100 article:
“In Murphy’s final 24 games of the 2023-24 season, he averaged 18.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 33.9 minutes while shooting 41.7% from 3-point range at high volume. His usage rate jumped to 18.2% in Year 3 (up from 15.9% the previous season), but that’s still a pretty low number for a player this talented. We know that he has a high release point and incredible gravity as a shooter, and we know that he can attack closeouts and run pick-and-rolls in a pinch. We don’t know, however, what kind of playmaking responsibility he can handle or whether or not New Orleans will put him in a position to test his limits anytime soon.”
During his sole season at Virginia after transferring from Rice, Trey Murphy III recorded a 50-40-90 statline before declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft, where he was selected No. 17 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans. He had a breakout season in 2022-2023, starting 65 games and averaging 14.5 points per game while shooting 40.6% from three-point range, earning votes for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Although he faced injuries this past season, Murphy still averaged career-highs in points (14.8), rebounds (4.9), and assists (2.2) while playing in 57 games, including 23 starts.
As he enters his fourth NBA season, Murphy was also named to the USA Men’s Basketball Select Team for the second consecutive year, aiding in the training of the United States Men’s National Team for the Paris Olympics.
Now, turning to those who did not make the list, the most significant omission is De’Andre Hunter, who was not among the three Atlanta Hawks players in the top 100: Bogdan Bogdanovic (No. 97), Jalen Johnson (No. 80), and Trae Young (No. 35). Hunter has comparable statistics to Johnson and brings exceptional value on the defensive end, often taking on the opposing team’s best wing player.
While there is debate over Hunter’s place in the top 100, it’s reasonable to assert he ranks within the top 150 NBA players and could potentially break into the top 100 with a strong performance in 2024-2025, his sixth NBA season.
It is challenging to argue for any other former Wahoos in the NBA Top 100 at this time. Malcolm Brogdon, who turns 32 this December, is likely past his prime. Meanwhile, it is either too early or insufficiently demonstrated to include other active Virginia basketball alumni such as Sam Hauser, Ty Jerome, or Jay Huff, as well as incoming rookies Ryan Dunn and Reece Beekman.
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