Glendale resident, Mike Murray has been hired as director of Hoop Group Skills Camp in the Poconos.
Hoop Group is one of the longest running camps in the country. Their programs are home to 128 Current NBA Players, 54 Naismith HOF Inductees, and 56 Collegiate National Championship Coaches.
The 23-year-old Sacred Heart kid has dedicated his life to basketball. He grew up playing for Sacred Heart CYO, and Long Island Lightning AAU programs. He’s played in other local basketball leagues such as IS8 and Heroes Basketball League.
Murray played for St. Francis Prep high school as a 3 year varsity player under Coach Leary.
After high school, Murray studied and played basketball at Manhattanville College. The latter two years were spent at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, balancing business administration and basketball. In Murray’s last year—2016—his team were the runners up in the Skyline Conference Tournament.
After a long winding, driven playing career, Murray started working with the Hoop Group. When he was 20 years old, he interned at Hoop Group for 3 summers in a row during college (2013, 2014, 2015). Soon after graduating St. Joseph’s, Murray was fortunately offered a job as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team at Queens College. The whole staff was new under head coach Matt Collier. The team finished 13-13 overall and made the playoffs, but lost to the University of Bridgeport in the 6th seed. They held the best school record since 2010-2011.
In late March, Murray was hired by Rob Kennedy and the Hoop Group to become one of the directors for “Hoop Group Skills Camp at Pocono Invitational.” Hoop Group is in their 55th summer of camp, making them the longest running basketball camp in the country. Their sessions include 2 skill development sessions each day, 3 daily regulation games, team practices, skills challenges, all-star games, championship tournaments, an awards ceremony, and of course, lifetime memories. The staff experience is consisted of Division 2 (D2) and Division 3 (D3) college coaches, high school/prep school, and AAU coaches. Camp is a great balance of instruction and competition to develop player’s individual games and skills. Hoop Group is a great experience when teammates/friends come together for a season, bonding over the great sport of basketball.
“Hoop Group Skills Camps are an experience so unique that we simply describe camp as “Basketball Paradise”. No camp in the country replicates our one-of-a-kind setting filled with nothing but basketball courts, dedicated players, and the beautiful view of the Pocono Mountains. During Skills Camp, you will be a student of the game, working directly with dedicated coaches from all levels of basketball,” said Murray.
As for Mike Murray, his ultimate goal is to become an NCAA Division 1 (D1) head coach one day. Meanwhile, short term he wants to work as hard as he can and be as successful as he can, following as his coaches and mentors did before him.
If you want to reach Mike Murray to learn more about Hoop Group Skills Camp in the Poconos, he can be reached at 347.297.0483 or murray@hoopgroup.com.
