PHILADELPHIA- On Monday, June 13th, 20 of the best female high school basketball players in Philadelphia returned to uniform and put on an action-packed game. But this night was not about the contest.
It was about why hundreds gathered inside West Catholic Preparatory High School on a weeknight in 95-degree heat to honor the life and legacy of Akyra Murray at the inaugural Akyra Murray Memorial Basketball Game.
Murray was a basketball standout, a 1,000-point scorer at West Catholic and an honors student who graduated 3rd in her class. The 18-year-old received a full scholarship to play basketball at Mercyhurst College.
Memorial Game Highlight Video - Zamani Feelings
Interviews with West Catholic Coach Beulah Osueke & senior Morgan Kennedy
Halftime Presentation
Murray was the youngest killed in the mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida one year ago.
But her legacy lives on.
“Our motto has been ‘Play for Akyra, live for Akyra, live through her,’” said West Catholic senior Morgan Kennedy, who was a close friend and teammate of Murray.
Many impressive traits were used to describe Murray: passionate, dedicated, talented, a natural leader.
“Akyra was a great person, inside and out. You can go to Akyra if you needed to talk, if you needed help you could go to her for homework—she was really, really smart,” touted Kennedy. “She would even say, ‘alright, let’s go to the gym and get some shots and talk.’”
Murray came to West Catholic in her junior year. By the end of her senior year, Murray had led her team to two district championships. Murray’s impact continues to play a huge role on her former team. In fact, the team attributes this season’s success to her legacy. The Lady Burrs finished this season 16-11 and advanced to the second round of the Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades.
Kennedy stressed the influence her former teammate had on the entire squad this past year and attributes West Catholic’s third District 12 City Title victory and deep journey into the state tournament to Murray’s sustaining spirit.
“Her legacy has definitely lived on,” says Kennedy.
“She is the reason that we had the season that we had this year,” said head coach and memorial game organizer Beulah Osueke, better known as “Coach B”.
“She is the reason that we are going to have the seasons we have moving forward,” said Osueke, who carried Murray’s jersey to every game.
Coach B intentionally invited some of the top female players in the Philadelphia area to participate as a tribute to Murray’s level of play and commitment to the game of basketball.
“She had a really clear passion for the game and a passion for development and growth,” emphasized Osueke.
The goal is to foster in these teens a motivation to continue to grow and stay committed to the journey, whatever it may be for each individual, and according to Osueke, Murray embodied that belief.
- 20 standout female athletes returned to the court from West Catholic, Neumann-Goretti, Abington Friends, Springside Chestnut Hill, Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast, Lansdale Catholic, Mastery North Charter, Abington HS, Audenried Charter, Academy Park, Archbishop Ryan and Imhotep Charter to honor Akyra Murray – photo courtesy of Beulah Osueke
Murray’s spirit was felt in the West Catholic Gym as members of the Philadelphia community and beyond filled the stands with love and energy. During a special halftime ceremony, Murray’s family was presented with a plaque and signed basketball from the team. The Philadelphia 76ers also presented Akyra’s family with a jersey with the last name Murray on the back in her honor.
“I definitely felt her presence here and it got more exciting as people were up and cheering and her parents and family had tears of joy and that’s what we wanted to bring out today,” said Osueke.
The Murray family along with West Catholic High School have set up a high school basketball scholarship foundation in honor of Akyra.
Akyra Murray Memorial Game Photos - Courtesy of Beulah Osueke
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