Dreher’s Murray signs with North Carolina

Jaelynn Murray will be wearing a different shade of blue next season.

The Dreher forward signed her letter of intent to play basketball at North Carolina on Wednesday during the first day of the early signing period. Murray had been committed to UNC since visiting there in September.

“When I was on my visit, it was basically like heaven,” Murray said. “They treated me so well and were so nice. They made me feel like I was at home and made me feel that is where I should be for the next four years of my life. It was a tough decision but I think I made the right decision.”

Murray had other offers, including from Duke, but made only one other visit to Florida International. Jhileiya Dunlap

It is the second straight year a Dreher player has signed with UNC. Jhileiya Dunlap, The State’s Gatorade Player of the Year last season, signed with the Tar Heels in November but will play the next two years at Gulf Coast Community College before heading to UNC. Murray said she is looking forward to reuniting with her high school teammate at UNC.

Murray is the second member of her family to play college basketball. Her mother, Michelle, played at South Carolina from 1990-93 and is No. 3 on the school’s all-time blocked shots list.

The 6-foot-2 Murray averaged 18.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game last year in helping Dreher to the Class 3A state championship. For her career, she has scored 1,118 points and has increased her scoring average in each of her first three years with the Blue Devils.

“She truly is an amazing player and I am so blessed and so fortunate to have shared this time with her,” Dreher coach Teresa Jones said. “We have one more season left with her and prayerfully we are looking to repeat this year.”

This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Dreher’s Murray signs with North Carolina."