ACAC Player Feature | Terrell Murdaugh

As a kid, Terrell Murdaugh would sit on the bench at his dad's basketball games.

To impress his dad's teammates, he would, in his own words, "Do pushups for money."

These were no ordinary games though.

There were no out-of-shape accountants or former run-of-the-mill high school players, trying to capture past glory.

This was far far away from your typical recreational league.

These men were athletes.

Actual professional basketball players.

Before turning pro, Terrell's father, Willie Murdaugh, was a star student/athlete at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg.

In the pro ranks, he would have stops in the Continental Basketball Association, Global Basketball Association, International Basketball Association and National Basketball League while wearing the uniforms of the Cape Breton Breakers, Dakota Wizards (two league titles), Idaho Stampede and Saskatchewan Hawks.

Also included in the resume, is a prestigious Athletic Amateur Union Tournament championship in 1997 while a member of the Pella Windows from Des Moines, Idaho.

Willie has not slowed with age, attested by a 2014 No. 1  ranking for FIBA 3 x 3 competition.

He has skills.

Skills that have been passed down to Terrell, a member of the Lakeland College Rustlers of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).

A team which is currently ranked No. 14 in Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association polls.

"I used to go to the games when he (Willie) was with the Wizards and Hawks," recalls Terrell, a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. "Those are my earliest memories of basketball when I was in Grade 2, 3 and Grade 4."

Terrell would take his game to national recognition as a member of the Dalmeny High School Cougars, where in one season ,he had two 64-point outbursts while averaging 46 points per game (ppg).

Named MVP in Grade 11 and Grade 12,  Terrell had a summer invite to the high-status Chicago Five Star Camp prior to entering his final high school year.

"It was an awesome experience," recalls Terrell, now 23 years-of-age. "I was in the best shape and I was the only Canadian there. So they (Americans) were coming at me full and there was a lot of trash talk.

"It was more physical and intense than we are used to here in Canada. But I had loved basketball all my life and I knew not to take it easy. My dad made sure of that. Even when I played my dad (one-on-one) in the front (driveway) it was not fun and games. He really took it to me."

Terrell's first taste of  post-secondary student/athlete life was with the SAIT Trojans in Calgary (2013-2014) where he played only eight games before leaving the program.

"I was young and I was home sick and I did not feel the environment there," recalls Terrell, who had averaged 7.4 ppg, which included a 22-point game against the host Keyano College Huskies.

After a year of "training and attending tournaments", Terrell enrolled at Lakeland College in 2015-2016

"I knew that I would play somewhere again," admitted Terrell. "I believed in myself and it was a learning experience. Playing with men that were bigger and stronger. It prepared me for (ACAC)."

In 20 ACAC regular season games he dropped in a team-high 16.1 ppg.

He upped his game in the playoffs with a 21.3 clip in three games, while also windexing the boards for a 7.6  rebounds per game average.

He was also selected ACAC First Team North All Conference.

Last year 2016-2017 with a team record of 15 wins and 9 losses, their best regular season record since 2010-2011 when they went 20-0 before being upset in the quarter finals by the 9 win 11 loss Grant MacEwan Griffins, Terrell's scoring average dropped to 12.4 ppg but his ball distribution and defence statistics improved.

He also played through a nagging stress fracture.

Lakeland would finish sixth at the ACAC provincials held in Medicine Hat, losing to the NAIT Ooks 79-74 in overtime.

This year, at point of this writing, the Rustlers are at 7 wins and 3 losses in early season play.

Terrell is having a breakout season, averaging a team-high 16.4 ppg while playing 31.7 minutes per game.

He also leads the teams in assists at 3.4 per game.

Terrell's future goal is to play professional basketball but realizes that he has elements of his game that need improvement.

"My left hand and my basketball IQ need improving," said the 5-foot-9 guard, who added "that on a good day I am 5-foot-10."

He continued: "I know there are other guys in this league (ACAC) who have the potential to play pro…say in Europe.

"My ball handling seems to do well for me and with my shooting, I can create a lot and get to the rim. Some times in the past there have been times when I got lazy and could have pushed myself harder. But the opportunity is still there."

Story provided by:  ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips