Iowa Hawkeyes’ Kris Murray declares for NBA draft, but it doesn’t mean he’s leaving Hawkeyes

Iowa sophomore forward Kris Murray has declared for this year’s NBA draft, but it doesn’t mean he’s leaving the Hawkeyes.

Murray, who averaged 9.7 points per game off the bench in 2021-22, probably will do what many players before him have done in experiencing the process of NBA early entries before returning to his school.

He can work out for NBA teams and learn how they’re evaluating him as a future pro.

“We fully support Kris using this opportunity to receive the feedback from NBA personnel through workouts and interviews,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said in a news release. “Kris took great strides and really came into his own last season.

“He is going through this process with a professional approach, and we are excited to see his game grow to another level.”

Murray, in a tweet on Wednesday, wrote he would maintain his eligibility and sounded like a player ready to stay in the college game.

“My focus is being able to grow as a player in every way possible,” he wrote. “I have big plans for next year and this experience will help me do that.

“The opportunity to get feedback and the experience working out for NBA teams will help me become the best player I can possibly be and take my game to the next level.”

Murray’s brother, Keegan Murray, announced on March 29 that he was going into the NBA draft after his All-America sophomore season for the Hawkeyes. At that time, Keegan made it sound like his brother was staying at Iowa for another season.

“He’s going to be a special player here,” Keegan Murray said. “I feel like you saw that a little bit this season with his performances against Purdue and Indiana, especially.

“I felt like he’s just scratching the surface of where he can be. I feel like he can lead this team. He can be a great contributor on this team and kind of be the focal point of this team. He’ll be ready for that next season.”

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