When Storm Murphy put his name in the transfer portal last March, he left the gym and already had a missed call.
It was Mike Young.
Murphy called him back immediately and the two caught up, picking up right where they left off from their time together at Wofford.
“I had hoped he wanted to play another year of college basketball,” Young said. “I said, ‘You have an opportunity here to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference, to get the band back together again.'”
Murphy entered the portal on Monday afternoon. On Saturday night, Young was driving to downtown Blacksburg when his phone rang.
It was Murphy, letting Young know he wanted to join him.
The pitch was much the same from when he committed to Wofford.
Murphy knew it was a place he would fit into the family culture that Young had created with a tight-knit group of guys. He could come right in and play a lot at point guard, but most of all, Murphy knew how much Young wanted him.
The two had a good relationship at Wofford, which Murphy credits a lot due to knowing what Young wanted out of his point guard.
“I’ve always taken pride in being a coach’s player and really helping the program,” Murphy said. “I think doing that helped our relationship.”
Murphy called being a point guard “an extension of Coach [Young]” and that’s why he strives to be an excellent communicator and leader as the Hokies’ floor general.
“I’ve always been a vocal guy, social, and trying to create a good culture and chemistry within a team,” Murphy said. “I think I’ve really found my voice here now and I’ve been able to click with the guys.”
Virginia Tech was the spot that made a ton of sense for Storm, not having to learn a new system and being able to reunite with Young and Keve Aluma, a former Wofford teammate.
“I knew I didn’t want to learn a new system,” he said. “Coming here, the familiarity was everything.”
Murphy was given an opportunity to go to a place where he already knew the play calls, the spots on defense, the rotations, and everything that his coach wanted from him before ever stepping on campus.
“I think we checked every box he was looking for,” Young said. “I think he saw it as an incredibly comfortable landing pad. We haven’t changed the way we coach or how we play.”
Murphy knew what to expect in Blacksburg, but it came with a big jump to ACC play, another big selling point from Young, but Murphy was excited for the opportunity.
He believed the jump was going to elevate his play and force him to become a better player and bring his “A” game every night.
But Young wasn’t the only driving force that led Murphy to Blacksburg.
“Storm coming was a real consideration for Keve coming back because he enjoyed playing with Storm that much,” Young said. “He’s told me that. That’s a special relationship. I’ve heard Keve say it 10 times how excited he is to play with Storm again.”
In 2016, Murphy and Aluma visited Wofford together and became crucial players for the Terriers. Young still recalls Murphy’s performance against No. 5 North Carolina, guarding Joel Berry and scoring six points en route to a huge upset.
It was a sign of good fortune to come for Wofford, which found itself in the NCAA Tournament the following season after rolling through the Southern Conference.
The Terriers showed no mercy, downing Seton Hall 84-68 as Murphy and Aluma combined for 19 points. It set up a showdown against blue blood Kentucky in the Round of 32. The Terriers showed some fight, but left the court with a six-point loss the last time the trio of Young, Aluma and Murphy were together before Young left for Tech.
“There’s definitely a feeling of unfinished business to just think about for Keve and I,” Murphy said. “We’re seniors now and this is the home run. It’s all-in time to do that with Coach Young again. We want to get there again and go even further.”
Even once Aluma left, the two stayed in touch and Aluma came back and visited during his sit out year.
Murphy and Aluma talked about how fun it would be to play together again and how special it would be for them. Aluma told Murphy that he saw him at Tech and threw out a pitch to try to bring in Murphy.
“He was excited to have me, and I knew that was genuine and ultimately a huge reason as to why I made [my] decision,” Murphy said.
Aluma has already been huge in helping Murphy settle in as a transfer, driving him around and showing him the area, what campus is like and what the guys are like. The two are roommates and Murphy has shown his appreciation to have Aluma helping him along the way.
“It’s been a blessing,” Murphy said. “A lot of transfers aren’t able to walk into a place like this.”
It’s been a transition for Murphy, and it hasn’t been easy at times, but the familiarity with Aluma and Young has played a huge role in helping him settle in.
“Just pumped to have gone through that challenge,” he said. “I think it’s going to help me this season and the team.”
Murphy has already found his role on the team as a leader and said there hasn’t been a single day that has been sluggish or unproductive. He has found his voice on the court and in practice, slotting into a big shooting role in his first year.
Murphy expressed his excitement to have all five guys on the court that can shoot from three and that the Hokies are going to be dangerous.
“I’ve noticed in practice that when I’m aggressive, I have such great players around me that they’re making plays and getting open, hitting shots and catching lobs,” he said.
Murphy knows the Hokies have big expectations in Young’s third year at the helm. Tech took a big step forward last season with Young relying on a familiar face in Aluma, and this year, Young gets to add Murphy to the mix.
“He’s a smart player and a really good passer. [He] doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves as a shooter,” Young said. “He makes the players around him better. He makes the game easy for teammates. He’s an energy provider. He affects the culture of your program.”
The band’s back together for one final tour. Although it’s for one season, Hokie Nation should cherish the encore performance.
Jackson Didlake 