Kris Murray

Kris Murray, a forward from the University of Iowa and an alumnus of DME Academy, was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 23rd pick of the first round in the 2023 NBA Draft. DME Academy is thrilled to see another one of its former student-athletes make it to the highest level of basketball.

Murray's journey to the NBA began as a 3-star recruit who was not receiving much attention from college recruiters. However, with the help of DME Academy's experienced coaches and trainers, he was able to develop his skills and improve on and off the court as a post-grad student-athlete. Dan Panaggio, Co-Founder of DME Academy and Head of Basketball Operations, said, “Kris Murray had a huge impact on DME Academy. He personified all the best qualities we look for in our student-athletes. He was intelligent, hard working, unselfish and humble. His teammates not only respected him, but loved him."

In 2019, Murray's impressive performance against top schools at the DME Jamboree caught the attention of universities across the SEC and ACC, leading him to accept an offer to play for the University of Iowa.

From his early days in an empty high school gym to playing in sold-out arenas, Murray has worked tirelessly to reach the pinnacle of basketball.

Murray joins the Blazers who are coming off a 33-49 overall record, and 13th place in the NBA Western Conference. He’s expected to make an immediate impact for Portland as an NBA-ready combo forward.

At DME Academy, we are committed to helping student-athletes like Murray achieve their dreams. If you're ready to make your basketball dreams a reality, click here to learn more.