Central Virginia Times

The University of Virginia basketball team is bringing its newest guard all the way from Auckland, New Zealand, taking him on during the opening day of the early signing period.

Taine Murray, who signed a letter of intent with the Cavaliers earlier this month, played for Rosmini College in high school, where he helped to lead his team to a combined 82-14 record in the 2017-2018 season, and in the 2018-2019 season to a national runner-up finish, according to a university news release. The 6-foot 5-inch Murray weighs 200 pounds, bringing a strong presence to the paint for a freshman.

“We are excited to add Taine into the Virginia men’s basketball family,” Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett said in the release. “Taine is a skilled and versatile guard, and he and his parents value a degree from the University of Virginia."

A member of the recruiting Class of 2021, Murray will join a well-established team, with only four seniors graduating at the end of this past season, according to the university's website. He will come in around the middle of the pack as far as size among his fellow guards.

"We look forward to him joining our program next fall,” Bennett said in the release.

While there was no high school ball for Murray to play in the 2019-2020 season, he did compete with the Auckland Huskies in the New Zealand National Basketball League, where he averaged 18 points a game, according to the release. He also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

In a win over Manawatu, Murray shot 43.5% from the three-point line, landing 7 of 11, and scoring 35 points, according to the release. In that same game he had five rebounds and four steals.

He also played two games for the New Zealand Tall Blacks during and was selected for the 2020 FIBA Asia Cup team, according to the release.

The Cavaliers went 15-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference during the 2019-2020 season, and 23-7 overall. They are scheduled to play their first in-conference game of the season against Florida State at 11: 30 a.m. Friday.