MSHSAA rules Marquel Murray eligible to compete for Sikeston

Friday, December 6, 2024

Cape Central's Marquel Murray leaps to slam a dunk against Charleston on Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Charleston, Mo.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) ruled hoops star Marquel Murray eligible to compete for Sikeston during a hearing in Columbia, Missouri on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Murray, a 6-foot-3 combo guard with Division I potential, who already caught the attention of Southeast Missouri State as a top target, is considered a high-level prospect for the Class of 2026.

He possesses a unique blend of athleticism, elite passing and jaw-dropping dunks that makes him a difficult matchup for any opponent.

Murray's eligibility had been challenged by Cape Central. However, after a hearing in Columbia, MSHSAA ruled in favor of Murray's eligibility.

Murray has been a standout performer at Cape Central for the past two seasons, earning All-SEMO Conference honors.

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Good for Sikeston. I'm sure they'll lose in the District championship or first round of playoffs like always

-- Posted by Ohweeohahaha on Fri, Dec 6, 2024, at 9:36 PM
When did lane kiffin start coaching Sikeston basketball.

-- Posted by gocardinals987 on Sat, Dec 7, 2024, at 7:51 AM
Coach would like another state championship...then ride off into the sunset

-- Posted by Fossil on Sat, Dec 7, 2024, at 8:54 AM
If the young man�s father lived in Sikeston, what grounds did Cape have to turn him in?

-- Posted by Sagamore on Sat, Dec 7, 2024, at 10:19 AM
Bulldog collective is tearing it up with these transfers. PJ last year, Marquel this year. Who will they grab next year?

-- Posted by gocardinals987 on Sat, Dec 7, 2024, at 10:55 AM
I hate to see this. Coaches leave all the time on their terms. When a player leaves then we have to question motives and everything else. Cape was happy when Kent Gibbs left Sikeston foe to coach them now players leave for Sikeston and its a problem. GTFOOH

-- Posted by CoachMarioJ on Sat, Dec 7, 2024, at 2:46 PM
Kids move to Sikeston bc of great hoops program. They move to Jackson for football. This ain't nuthin' new.

-- Posted by cardsfan53 on Sat, Dec 7, 2024, at 4:44 PM
It's funny how private schools are always criticized for "recruiting" when, at least in SE Missouri, public schools are always doing this kind of stuff.

-- Posted by SEMONole on Sun, Dec 8, 2024, at 8:51 AM
Coach Holifield and his staff have built a great program over the years. The parents and community have supported the hard-working kids that have maintained the program at a high level. This perfect storm sometimes happens at one school or another in a specific sport - and it is understandable that parents and kids want to be a part of those special programs. I have no problem with school changes like this - as long as the family actually changes residences and/or follows all the MSHSAA rules. But if hard-working coaches and players at a private school program attract great players from nearby towns and have great success for a long period of time - they get bumped up a class or two for as long as six years.

-- Posted by johndaniel on Sun, Dec 8, 2024, at 9:00 AM
It�s not going to matter they�ll fold like always! Great programs win state titles not just win games & win district then lose when they actually play their class! Tonight was a perfect example of SIKESTON up 36 points in the 4th quarter with all 5starters still in the game. They are notorious for it. Yea they subbed one player at a time at the 2:50 second mark. I all that talent and when it�s all said and done they�re not going to get it done like always! History shows that!

-- Posted by That Dude on Wed, Dec 11, 2024, at 7:46 AM
Here is your history That Dude.

https://www.mshsaa.org/MySchool/ActivityHistory.aspx?s=191&alg=5

-- Posted by johndaniel on Wed, Dec 11, 2024, at 8:23 AM
No, here's your history Mr. Daniel. Keep scrolling down. Way down. You referred to them as a great/special program. If that's true, then what adjective does SCC & Charleston get?

https://www.mshsaa.org/Activities/StateChampionships.aspx?mode=school&alg=5

-- Posted by SportsFan573 on Wed, Dec 11, 2024, at 8:36 AM
Good morning SportsFan573. MSHSAA has only posted the district history for the last 16 years. In that time Sikeston has won 11 district titles, advanced to 4 final 4's, and won a title. My point is that great players are going to want to join a program like that if they can. Coach Holifield has had a Hall of Fame career. There are not many active coaches in SEMO with a comparable record of achievements. As a former high school and college coach, I have a lot of respect for what he has accomplished, and I am not going to apologize for referring to his program as great and special. I will let you pick the adjectives to describe the current status of the programs at SCC and Charleston - both of which have had tremendous success over decades but have also had recent coaching changes. Please introduce yourself if you see me at a local game.

-- Posted by johndaniel on Wed, Dec 11, 2024, at 10:13 AM
John Daniel Charleston did have a recent coaching change and he still has as many state titles as your great coach Holifield.

-- Posted by SEMOFAN86 on Tue, Dec 17, 2024, at 4:15 PM
Good morning SEMOFAN86. I enjoyed watching that 2022 team and was glad to see Coach Williams win that State Championship. He just might get another one this year. Charleston is playing their typical schedule - against mostly bigger schools all year. I will not be surprised if they finish the season with a losing record but still go on to win another State Championship this year, especially since they have moved down to Class 2. I am always hoping that all the teams that come out of SEMO represent the area well as the post season advances. If Coach Williams stays at Charleston for a long period of time and has as much success as Coach Holifield has had, I will use the same adjectives to describe his program. Both can have great careers, and I do not think it is not necessary to attack one to praise the other - and I am always disappointed when I see coaches getting attacked by those who use a pseudo name.

-- Posted by johndaniel on Wed, Dec 18, 2024, at 9:43 AM

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