Aaric Murray's decision makes sense

Why La Salle University?

Aaric Murray is good enough to play basketball for most of the nation's premier college teams.

Blessed with soft hands and a 6-foot-11, 265-pound frame, the Glen Mills senior is regarded as the nation's sixth-best center and 33d overall prospect in the Class of 2009 by ESPN Insider.

The lofty rankings came even before he wowed the hordes of big-time Division I coaches with his athleticism at this summer's Reebok All- American Camp at Philadelphia University.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo knows him well. Kentucky's Billy Gillispie uses Murray as a barometer when evaluating blue chippers. And West Virginia's Bob Huggins was one of the first coaches to offer a scholarship.

Why La Salle?

That's the question college coaches, recruiting analysts and basketball enthusiasts are still asking themselves.

"Please tell me u r kidding," was a text message I received after Murray's oral commitment to La Salle was reported last Wednesday.

Others laughed through the phone when informed that Murray thought out the decision.

They pointed out that La Salle is a tiny Atlantic Ten school, on Olney Avenue.

The Explorers finished last season 15-17, including an 8-8 conference record. Unlike Memphis, Pittsburgh, and Indiana - some of the other schools recruiting Murray - you will rarely see La Salle highlights on SportsCenter.

So why La Salle?

Because it appears to be the best place for him.

Murray is apparently comfortable with the school's atmosphere and likes coach John Giannini. And it keeps him close to his real support group at Glen Mills.

College prospects should go where they're comfortable, not where we would like to see them.

Murray has never wavered in his initial preference to attend a Philadelphia school.

Indeed, he chose the Explorers over West Virginia, Villanova, St. Joseph's and Temple.

I commend him for sticking to his plan, even though some of his mentors wanted him to do otherwise.

They wanted to see him play on the big stage. They liked the fact that virtually every major college coach eyeballed his moves during the summer circuit. They even told him to play every second at the camps as if his future depended on it.

What they forget was that none of those things impressed Murray.

The 18-year-old isn't concerned about playing for a national championship contender or becoming an NBA lottery pick.

"I'm just trying to get my degree," said Murray, who has been playing organized ball for only 21 months. "I'm not just going to college for two years.

"I want to go somewhere that if I didn't play ball, I would fit in academically and with the university's atmosphere. I don't want to go somewhere because I would only fit in because I play basketball."

That's why he chose La Salle.