Tech basketball, golf, baseball players in the summertime news
Catching up with some of the events over the summer, former Golden Eagle basketball and baseball players, along with current men's and women's golf team members, are in the summertime headlines.
From time to time, the Tennessee Tech Sports Information staff will compile a notebook of items we've found that might be of interest to Golden Eagle fans.
Three former Golden Eagles in NBA Summer Leagues
Kevin Murphy: Filling a familiar role
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For the fourth straight summer, former Golden Eagle standout Kevin Murphy found himself in familiar territory, taking part in one of the three NBA Summer League circuits, this time as a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
Originally drafted by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft, Murphy has participated in summer league play for his drafted team, the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers before taking part in all five contests earlier this month with the Hornets.
Averaging 20.5 minutes per game, the one-time All-NBA D-League First Team member saw limited action in his first contest, but quickly made his presence felt in the second game of the summer by dropping 12 points in the first half against Memphis. He also posted 12 points, as well as seven rebounds, three assists and two steals against Orlando during the week-long league.
Over his five games on the court, Murphy averaged just over six points per game and just under three boards. He dished out 1.4 assists while shooting over 45 percent from the field, 33 percent from beyond the arc and 81 percent from the charity stripe.
Murphy finished his four-year career as a Golden Eagle as just the second player ever to record 2,000 points. He finished second all-time with 2,019 and also played in the most games in program history (128).
Liam McMorrow: Making the most of a second chance
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After putting together eye-popping numbers in the Philippines, former Tech big man Liam McMorrow is getting a second chance at cracking an NBA roster after playing for the Los Angeles Clippers in the Orlando Summer League earlier this month.
Two years ago, the seven-footer took part in summer play for the New York Knicks, but was ultimately limited in minutes and averaged just over two points and two rebounds per game. He’s improved his game drastically since his first shot in an NBA summer league.
Playing for the Barako Bull Energy Cola team in the Philippines, McMorrow averaged 27.5 points and 20.2 rebounds per game while shooting over 60 percent from the field in 12 games. He translated that to six points and 5.2 rebounds per game in five contests for the Clippers. He nearly put up a double-double in the second game of the summer, dropping nine points and pulling down nine rebounds in just 17 minutes.
Charles Jackson: Just getting started on the next level
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Many Tech fans may have been shocked to learn of the departure of junior big man Charles Jackson this past offseason, as the towering double-double machine forewent his senior season for a chance at achieving his dream of playing in the NBA.
But it looks like the decision, albeit a tough one to swallow for Golden Eagle fans who fell in love with the enticing and addictive personality of the 6-foot-10 center this past winter, has begun to pay off. Jackson participated in the Las Vegas Summer League for the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this month, earning playing time in four of the team’s five contests.
Despite being limited to just 15 minutes of action per game, the member of last year’s Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team made the most of his opportunity, leading the 76ers with a 59.1 field goal percentage while averaging 7.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals. He also ranked third on the squad in rebounds per game.
While never playing more than 18 minutes, Jackson managed to drop nine points twice and at least seven rebounds two times as well. This all while sharing the paint with first-round draft pick Jahlil Okafor.
In his one and only season in the purple and gold, Jackson took the OVC by storm, posting a league-high 18 double-doubles, the highest total in program history since 1996. He led the Golden Eagles in scoring, rebounding, blocks, field goal percentage and steals.
Seven Golden Eagle women golfers in State Open
CROSSVILLE, Tenn. -- When the 17th annual Golf Capital of Tennessee Women's Open tees off July 30-Aug. 1 at the Stonehenge Golf Club near Crossville, the field of challengers will include seven members of the Tennessee Tech women’s golf team.
A new champion will be crowned this year. Defending champion Chirapat Jao-Javanil previously entered but since has withdrawn and the other past champions are not among the 94 ladies registered for the field which is cut to the low 60 and ties after the first two rounds.
Golden Eagles who will compete in the tournament are Arianna Clemmer, Anna Cunningham, Allyson Dunn, Shelby Johnson, Lindsey Miller, Hollee Sadler, Lydia Triplett and Megan Williamson. Clemmer, Johnson, Miller and Sadler are all incoming freshmen, while Dunn is a newcomer who has transferred to Tech from East Tennessee.
More than 30 of the players in the field are college players. In addition to Tech, they represent the University of Memphis, Belmont, Middle Tennessee, Lee Austin Peay, Chattanooga, Vanderbilt, Lipscomb, Kenutcky, Tennessee, Milligan, Tusculum, Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman.
Dunn recently won the Tennessee Women’s Amateur Championship at the Chattanooga Golf & Country Club.
David Hess: The ‘Hess Express’ beginning to impress
FREDERICK, Md. – It took just a few months on the bump for former Golden Eagle hurler David Hess to convince the Baltimore Orioles to do something they seldom do. After impressing the organization that took him in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB draft, the right-hander earned a spot with the Class A Advanced Frederick Keys (affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles) for his first full season of pro ball.
And after battling through a tough first half of the season, the former TTU ace has been simply dazzling since the Carolina League’s All Star Break. In five starts, Hess has posted three wins thanks to a remarkable 1.24 ERA, allowing just four earned runs over 29 innings of work. He has fanned 24 batters while walking just nine and surrendering 17 hits over that span.
The first game back from the All-Star break, Hess was as dominant as he proved to be on the mound at Bush Stadium while donning the purple and gold. The youngster captured Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors after finishing with five shutout innings and a victory. He struck out four while scattering three hits.
Two starts later, he put together one of his best starts in his short professional career. Hess set down seven batters on strikes in seven innings, allowing just a single hit, zero runs and zero walks.
And his brilliant play since the break isn’t the only item of note for Hess. He and his teammates will don some pretty special (albeit crazy) uniforms for their July 31 contest against Myrtle Beach. If you don’t remember (or just don’t know), that’s the outfit worn by Chucky of Nickelodeon’s animated children’s show Rugrats.
Hess wrapped up his three-year Golden Eagle career with the third most strikeouts in program history, compiling 232 while also finishing fifth all-time with 19 victories. His 16 starts during the 2014 season remains as a school record as well.
Kendricks repeat as Father & Son national champions
Click here to read the entire story by Alan Blondin, Myrtle Beach Online
Golden Eagle senior golf team captain Bryce Kendrick and his father, Bryan, have done it again. The duo from Knoxville claimed a convincing 10-shot victory recently in the 18th National Father & Son Team Classic in Myrtle Beach.
The Kendricks won the U.S. championship two years ago, and played in the European Father & Son Championship in Spain a month later. This year’s win also qualifies them to compete Oct. 26-31 in Cadiz Andalusia, Spain. Last year they finished second by two shots.
Golden Eagle golf coach Polk Brown has already given Bryce his blessing to skip the team’s coinciding tournament that week to compete with his father and take advantage of tournament-paid expenses including entry fees, lodging and meals.
While Bryce is hesitant to miss a tournament for Tech, he admits that the opportunity is probably too great to pass on.
“You don’t know how many times you’re going to get this chance, so in all likelihood we’ll be in Spain again in October,” he said.
Seth Lucio: Tip of the cap to a TinCap
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – David Hess isn’t the only former Tech pitching standout to take advantage of the second half of the season to rebound from a tough start. Seth Lucio has been nearly flawless over his past 10 games as a relief pitcher for the Class A Fort Wayne TinCaps (affiliate of the San Diego Padres).
The right-handed hurler has surrendering just one single earned run through his last 15 innings on the mound, scattering 10 hits while striking out 19 batters and walking just two. The groove he’s jumped into as the team’s set up man has been impressive, sporting a 0.60 ERA over the span dating back to June 14.
The massive stretch has lowered his season ERA to a solid 3.19 with 42 and one-third innings pitched. Lucio has fanned 43 batters and walked just 18 while giving up 15 earned runs and holding batters to a .222 average.
It comes as no surprise that the Locust Grove, Ga. native is experiencing success in his first full year of professional ball. Lucio ended his three-year career as a Golden Eagle as the program’s all-time leader in saves with 22. In fact, he tied the program record for career saves in just his first year as the closer, posting 12 in 2013. He added 10 more as a junior before being selected in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Padres.
Compiled by Mike Lehman, Sports Information Coordinator
and Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
Kendrick photo by Jason Lee, Myrtle Beach Sun News
