Warren Mott has been known for football over the past few years, but don’t tell that to junior small forward Derek Murphy. Murphy so far this season has started out his 11th grade campaign with already two 30 point plus games, one coming against Detroit Osborn and the other one against North Farmington at the Motor City Roundball Classic. Derek has come along way from the summer time, after suffering a back injury and missing more than half of the AAU circuit, Derek gained 15 pounds of muscle, which has helped develop his overall game.
“I gained 15 pounds of muscle over the summer and worked on my own now, I play more over the rim and also my pull-up jumper has really improved.”
Derek is certainly an underrated name in a talent rich region such as the Metro Detroit area. With small forwards in his class including Xavier Cochran (Ann Arbor Huron), Josh Davis (Henry Ford), and Jeron Rogers (North Farmington), it is hard for a wing to make a name of himself. But for Derek, he uses it as motivation to only prove the naysayers wrong.
“I actually like it (Being underrated),” Derek went onto say, “It motivates me to play that much harder. Especially when I play players ranked over me, I try to out-do them in every aspect of the game, including work ethic, defensive intensity, and overall stats.”
As far as an individual skill set, Murphy is a matchup nightmare. He is too big for smaller point guards, but to quick and agile for taller forwards. He can get to the foul line at will, and is a force to be reckoned with on the perimeter, where he is shooting over 40% from behind the arch.
“I’m a physical player, I play the wing guard mostly and shine at the point guard position,” the 6’5″ 190 pound Murphy said, “Opponents start a bigger guy on me and I get to the basket every time. Then they switch and put a smaller guard on me and I shoot right over the top.”
It’s still early in Derek’s recruiting situation, but after putting up multiple 30 plus point games against quality competition, how can it not rise. With a handful of D2 and low D1 school at the Motor City Roundball Classic, interest in the Mott junior is beginning to rise.
“It’s (Recruiting) been picking up over the last week. Strong interest from Wayne State, Lake Superior State, and Ferris State,” Derek said, “As far as D1 schools, Dartmouth, St. Peters, and Bowling Green have reached out.”
Warren Mott is off to a sluggish 2-2 start on the early season. However, expectations are high for this team. With seniors Kenny Goins and Stef Johnson on the squad, there is no reason this Marauder team can’t make noise come playoff time come March. The trio have goals they want to accomplish, and will not lay down lightly for teams standing in their way.
“Us three are definitely the three main contributors, on and off the court we are brothers,” said the junior, “for us to be successful, we must perform. “The main goal is to lead the team to at least a district championship, I believe if we play to our best ability, we can be dangerous and make it far.”
Don’t believe that this strong start for Derek is a fluke and will fade away towards the middle of the season. Murphy is motivated this year, not only to prove doubters wrong, but to play the game he loves, the sport of basketball.
“The fact that I didn’t really have an AAU season and my games are dwindling,” Murphy credits his early season success on, “so every game, I play it like it’s my last.”
The Prep Ball Report 
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